Procurement Projects

John Hayes: To ask the Leader of the House what the 20 largest procurement projects initiated by the Privy Council Office since May 1997 were; what the  (a) original budget,  (b) cost to date and  (c) consultancy fees were; and what the final cost was of each project which has been completed.

Jack Straw: The information requested is set out in the following table, for the whole period from May 1997 to date. Details of the original budgets associated with these procurements are not held centrally and only available at disproportionate cost. No consultancy fees were incurred in connection with these procurement projects.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Project  Cost to date  Final costs 
			 Refurbishment of Ministerial Suite 82,424 82,424 
			 Set-up costs for Leader of the House of Commons Website 44,828 44,828 
			 Increased Security measures for 2 Carlton Gardens 37,879 37,879 
			 New Payroll Contract implementation 37,042 37,042 
			 Setting up costs for Privy Council Office Website 35,485 35,485 
			 Staff Survey, conference and workshops 31,042 31,042 
			 Judicial Committee Data Base 25,991 25,991 
			 Departmental Diversity Awareness Training and workshops 19,574 19,574 
			 Judicial Committee Sound System for Courtroom 18,869 18,869 
			 Leader of the House of Commons' Correspondence Data base 18,844 18,844 
			 Lords Chief Whip's Video Conferencing facility. 18,212 18,212 
			 Provision of bathroom for Lady Judges at Judicial Committee 17,170 17,170 
			 Judges Retiring Room furniture 15,267 15,267 
			 Screens for Judicial Committee Court Room 12,577 12,577 
			 Security Cupboards 85 Cabinets for Judicial Committee 8,769 8,769 
			 Carpeting for library etc JC 8,078 8,078 
			 Leader of the House of Commons T.V screens & Video Equipment 7,451 7,451 
			 Bathroom Refurbishment 2 Carlton Gardens 7,401 7,401 
			 Carpeting for third floor 2 Carlton Gardens 7,263 7,263 
			 Electrical upgrades for posts and sockets, 2 Carlton Gardens. 7,199 7,199 
		
	
	All questions to the Leader of the House can be found on:
	www.commonsleader.gov.uk

Crown Prosecution Service

Philip Davies: To ask the Solicitor-General what estimate he has made of the number of cases where the Crown Prosecution Service have not had the relevant file with them at court in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains no central record of occasions on which a case file is not available at court. The information is held on individual files and could only be obtained by locating and examining relevant files in each CPS office, which would incur disproportionate costs (Code of Practice on Government Information, part 2, clause 9).
	It is however the case that defendants often appear before the court after having been arrested late at night or in the morning and files will need to be put together at very short notice by CPS staff and the police, therefore the file may sometimes arrive after the days court proceedings have begun.

Plea Bargaining

David Drew: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will implement a pilot scheme to assess the merits of more formal plea bargaining.

Mike O'Brien: The report of the Fraud Review that was published in July 2006 included a recommendation that there should be a formal system of plea bargaining in fraud cases. The report has been the subject of consultation, the results of which will be taken into account when the Government responds to all of the recommendations early in the new year.

Bus Services

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects free local bus travel to be available to all pensioners.

Gillian Merron: From April this year, older and disabled people have been guaranteed free off-peak local bus travel within their local authority area. From April 2008, this will be extended further allowing free off-peak local bus travel anywhere in England.
	Free concessionary bus travel schemes already exist in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The Concessionary Bus Travel Bill introduced 27 November includes a power to allow, via regulations in the future for mutual recognition of concessionary bus passes across the UK.

Departmental Staff

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many value for money exercises on the use of  (a) management consultants and  (b) professional advisers were conducted by his Department in each of the last five years for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The Department completes the annual Office of Government Commerce (OGC) value for money return, and has done so since the Department was created in May 2002. This uses methodologies published by OGC to measure value for money gains across the whole procurement function. Information about specific value for money exercises for individual projects is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department follows Government procurement policy and OGC published guidance on best practice in procurement of goods and services. Procurement will mostly be by competitive tender with the contract being awarded to the supplier offering best overall value for money. In the case of consultancy and professional advisers the Department also makes use of pre-completed framework agreements negotiated centrally by OGC Buying Solutions on behalf of central Government.
	The internal audit programme regularly includes audits that check compliance with procurement policies and procedures.

Driving Instruction: Curriculum

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what work his Department undertakes with the Department for Education and Skills to ensure that further education establishments teach road safety and driver education to young people; what plans he has to increase such work; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: No such work is undertaken because there is no national curriculum for the post compulsory education sector. Further education institutions develop a curriculum reflecting the needs of the community they serve. The Department's Driving Standards Agency delivered over 4,700 arrive alive presentations in 2005-06 in schools, colleges, young offenders institutions and other organisations. Arrive alive provides information and road safety education to 16-19 year old pre-drivers.
	Reducing accidents involving young drivers is a key consideration in the second review of the road safety strategy currently being undertaken by the Department.

Driving Offences

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with his counterparts in EU member states on exchanging information on  (a) non UK driving licence holders who have received driving endorsements whilst driving in the UK and  (b) UK driving licence holders who commit offences whilst abroad.

Stephen Ladyman: There have been no recent EU wide ministerial discussions on these issues. However, I and the Irish Minister of Transport have continuing bilateral discussions on initiating such cooperation on driving disqualifications and lesser motoring infringements.

Driving Tests

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the  (a) cost of providing and  (b) price of sitting a driving theory test was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The increases in cost and price of the Driving theory test are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Financial year  Cost of test deliver (£) 
			 2001-02 13.95 
			 2002-03 14.75 
			 2003-04 18.94 
			 2004-05 19.53 
			 2005-06 19.53 
		
	
	
		
			  Period  Fees charged by DSA (£) 
			 April 2001 to October 2002 15.50 
			 November 2002 to August 2003 18.00 
			 September 2003 to July 2005 20.50 
			 August 2005 to March 2006 21.00 
			 March 2006 onwards 21.50

Fares: Technology

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department is making towards the introduction of smart card technology outside London.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department is supporting a number of schemes that are implementing the ITSO national standard for interoperable transport smart cards.
	The 'NoWcard' scheme is live in Blackpool and full roll out across the remainder of Lancashire and Cumbria is expected over the next year.
	Cheshire county council is migrating from its existing smartcard scheme to the ITSO standard with an initial rollout by the end of 2006 further stages following incrementally across their scheme. Nottinghamshire and Southampton are expected to complete their migration from existing schemes by April 2008.
	The 'Yorcard' pilot, based on a number of bus and rail routes in South Yorkshire, is expected to go live with an ITSO scheme towards the end of 2007.
	The use of ITSO has also been included in the new South Western rail Franchise to be implemented by 2009.
	Scotland and Wales are also using ITSO based smartcards for their national bus concession scheme for older and disabled persons. Over 1 million cards have been issued and their entire bus fleets are being equipped with the necessary card readers over the coming months. The bus fleet on the Shetland Islands introduced the ITSO standard during November.
	The Department is looking at the potential for using smartcards as part of the national concessionary fares scheme to be launched April 2008.

M6

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that his forthcoming economic assessment of the costs and benefits of the proposed widening of the M6 motorway between junctions 11A and 19 will take into account the economics of  (a) stabilisation,  (b) mitigation and  (c) adaptation in respect of climate change in accordance with the findings of the Stern Review.

Stephen Ladyman: The appraisal of the M6 (11a to 19) widening is being undertaken in accordance with DfT's standard Transport Analysis Guidance (see www.webtag.org.uk) and therefore will include a monetary estimate of the social cost of carbon resulting from forecast change in carbon emissions over a 60 year period. This monetary estimate of the social cost of carbon will be taken into account in the economic assessment of the scheme in line with the findings of the Stern Review.

Railways

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions  (a) he and  (b) his officials have had with (i) the Mayor of London and (ii) Transport for London on (A) the relationship between the new London Rail Concession (LRC) and other national rail services in London and (B) the possible impact of the policy on open access on the LRC.

Tom Harris: Officials from the Department for Transport (DfT) have had discussions with Transport for London (TfL) regarding the LRC over the last two years. These discussions have covered a number of issues including the arrangements for transferring the franchising of these services from DfT to TfL.
	Services operated by the LRC will continue to be part of the national rail network and will, therefore, have the same relationship with other national rail services (such as ticket purchasing ability and through fares) through the requirements of the passenger licence—although given planned extensions some changes will occur at specific locations.
	The relationship between these services and open access operators is a matter for the ORR.

Roads

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the outcome was of the 1998 two year testing period of low noise, crumb rubber aggregate asphalt by the Highways Agency and the Road Transport Laboratory.

Stephen Ladyman: The section of proprietary low noise surfacing asphalt incorporating approximately 5 per cent. reprocessed waste tyres was laid on a county road by Surrey county council in 1998. However, it failed prematurely and had to be replaced. A further trial, just under one mile long, was subsequently laid on the A244 Hersham bypass in June 1999, also by Surrey county council. For two years its performance was monitored as part of the Highways Agency's research programme. Following its satisfactory performance, a more heavily trafficked trial site on a short length of the A34 trunk road was offered by the Highways Agency, but the company that supplied the surfacing decided not to proceed.

Digital Broadcasting: Norfolk

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of people in Norfolk have switched from analogue television to digital television; what proportion that is of the total number of licence holders in the country; and if she will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: We do not have specific figures for Norfolk. However, Ofcom estimate that digital take-up of at least one television set, is around 66 per cent. in the east of England. (Ofcom report: The Communications Market, Nations and Regions 2006). Nationwide, the figure is 70.2 per cent. (Ofcom report: Communications Market: Digital Progress Report Digital TV, Q2 2006).
	We continue to work with Digital UK to ensure the public have the information they need to switch to digital television in good time.

Piers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her strategy is for the long-term sustainability of seaside piers; and if she will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: This Department does not have a strategy for the sustainability of seaside piers. However, the English Heritage Seaside Research Project is examining the broad historical contribution of the pier to the England's seaside. Its findings will be published in a monograph, which is due to be published in September/October 2007. The research gathered in the course of the project will be used to develop policy for English Heritage, which might include specific initiatives on the conservation and future of piers.

Canine Shock Collars

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) funded into the (i) safety and (ii) ethics of electric shock collars for dogs.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra has not yet commissioned or funded any research into electric shock collars for dogs, though we are currently considering this.
	A limited tender call asking for proposals to assess the effect of electronic pet training aids (specifically static pulse, anti-bark, and inert gas training systems) on the welfare of dogs was circulated in July.
	A single proposal was received, which is now undergoing internal and external assessment before a decision is taken on whether to commission this research. If any research is commissioned we would expect work to start in April 2007.
	The terms of the call were for studies focusing on an epidemiological approach into the behavioural, physiological and psychological effects of electric training collars on the welfare of dogs. Safety is implicit in this.
	Defra has also asked the Companion Animal Welfare Council to undertake an independent study of available evidence on the use of these electronic training aids, to help inform policy and complement any research that the Department may commission. The overall aim is to develop a sound evidence-base to formulate policy on whether or not to regulate such devices. Ethical issues are an integral part of animal welfare policy considerations.
	I also refer my hon. Friend to the answer given in the other place on 8 November 2006,  Official Report, column WA161.

Farm Inspections

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will provide more on-farm inspections to oversee the breeding and husbandry of animals.

Ben Bradshaw: The State Veterinary Service (SVS) carries out inspections on farms to check that welfare legislation and codes are being followed. In addition to spot checks and planned visits, the SVS follows up all complaints and allegations of poor welfare on specific farms as a matter of urgency. In 2005, the SVS carried out 6,123 on-farm welfare inspections. This compares with 5,431 welfare inspections carried out in 2004.
	From 1 January 2007, cross compliance inspections will include checks on the welfare of farmed animals. Most farms will be selected on a risk basis, ensuring that those with a higher risk of not meeting legislative standards are more likely to be selected for inspection. This is in line with DEFRA's Better Regulation policy, to reduce burdens on the majority of farmers who do comply with the law.

Fisheries

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total EU subsidy for each national fishing fleet was in each year since 1985.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not hold all the information requested. However, some of the information is available within the report "Financial Support in OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Fisheries: Implication for Sustainable Development" which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Fisheries

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the  (a) total allowable catches and  (b) levels of discards were within British territorial waters for each fish species in 2005-06.

Ben Bradshaw: Total allowable catches (TACs) are set internationally for a wide range of fish species around the British Isles. The TAC areas vary by species. However, the following table gives figures for TACs in 2005 and 2006 for a selection of those stocks for which the level of discards are recorded internationally, together with the UK shares of the TACs.
	
		
			   2005  2006 
			   TAC  UK  TAC  UK 
			  Cod 
			 North Sea 27,300 10,631 23,205 9,037 
			 West of Scotland and Rockall 721 433 613 368 
			 Irish Sea 2,150 619 1,828 527 
			 Channel and Western approaches 6,200 493 5,580 439 
			  
			  Haddock 
			 North Sea 66,000 39,832 51,850 34,574 
			 West of Scotland 7,600 6,127 7,810 6,294 
			 Rockall 702 566 597 481 
			 Irish Sea, Channel and Western approaches 11,520 1,152 11,520 1,152 
			  
			  Whiting 
			 North Sea 28,000 10,444 23,800 9,162 
			 West of Scotland and Rockall 1,600 917 1,360 780 
			 Irish Sea 514 199 437 169 
			 Channel and Western approaches 21,600 2,318 19,940 2,140 
		
	
	UK fisheries laboratories send observers to sea to record the quantity of fish discarded and retained by fishing vessels. Systematic data for a representative sample of the UK fleet is only available for some fisheries.
	The following tables show estimates for the proportion of catch discarded for cod, haddock and whiting by the UK fleet in the North Sea during 2005. Corresponding figures for 2006 are not yet available as the fishing season has yet to be completed.
	
		
			  England—2005 
			  Species  Percentage of catch discarded by weight 
			 Cod 11 
			 Haddock 6 
			 Whiting 25 
		
	
	
		
			  Scotland—2005 
			  Species  Percentage of catch discarded by weight 
			 Cod 15 
			 Haddock 15 
			 Whiting 49

Fisheries

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of fish stocks of the main North Sea species in each year since 1985.

Ben Bradshaw: Fish stocks in EU waters are assessed by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). Scientists from the UK's fisheries laboratories contribute to the undertaking of these assessments which provide estimates of the total weight of mature adult fish, that is, the spawning stock biomass (SSB). This is used as a measure of the overall abundance of a stock.
	Estimates are available for cod, haddock, saithe, plaice and sole in the North Sea. The most recent estimates of SSB for these stocks are given in the following table:
	
		
			  SSB 
			  Thousand tonnes 
			   Cod  Haddock  Saithe  Plaice  Sole 
			 1985 118 239 160 344 41 
			 1986 109 223 150 368 34 
			 1987 102 151 150 446 30 
			 1988 93 152 145 392 39 
			 1989 87 122 111 415 34 
			 1990 76 76 97 379 89 
			 1991 72 59 93 341 77 
			 1992 72 97 95 273 77 
			 1993 75 130 103 239 55 
			 1994 71 152 112 208 74 
			 1995 91 148 135 186 59 
			 1996 98 179 155 180 38 
			 1997 85 193 197 186 28 
			 1998 72 165 197 206 21 
			 1999 69 118 207 155 42 
			 2000 46 94 195 229 39 
			 2001 36 235 216 277 30 
			 2002 43 363 207 243 31 
			 2003 40 356 241 246 26 
			 2004 37 298 281 183 40 
			 2005 36 256 288 193 38 
			 2006 32 231 290 194 30

Nuclear Industry

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the limit on the liability incurred by a nuclear operator is in the case of accident; whether that limit is subject to  (a) negligence and  (b) other conditions; whether that limit is set under international law; whether that limit is under review by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	A UK nuclear operator's liability for third party property damage and personal injury caused by a nuclear accident is generally limited to £140 million. The limit is set in the Nuclear Installations Act 1965, as amended. The Act gives effect to the UK's international legal obligations under the Paris Convention on third party nuclear liability and the Brussels Supplementary Convention. The Paris Convention sets a minimum liability limit for nuclear operators. In the event of a nuclear accident for which a UK operator was liable the UK operator would be obliged, as the law stands, to pay compensation very greatly in excess of the Convention minimum and significantly in excess of the OECD recommended minimum. The operator is strictly liable, which means that it would not be necessary for a person seeking compensation for property damage or personal injury to prove negligence. Other requirements and conditions apply under the Act and the Conventions. For example, the operators of licensed nuclear sites in the UK are required to maintain insurance or other financial security covering their liability. The Paris and Brussels Conventions have recently been amended, but the amendments are not in force. Amongst other things, these amendments will, generally speaking, increase the amount of compensation an operator must provide to at least €700 million per incident. In that context, therefore, the liability limit of UK operators is under review. Work to implement these changes into UK law is being taken forward together with other contracting parties to the Conventions.

Recycling

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance his Department has given to local authorities participating in a recycling scheme on the frequency of collection of garden waste refuse in winter.

Ben Bradshaw: The Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA) places a duty on all waste collection authorities to arrange for the collection of household waste, but it does not stipulate how often collections should occur.
	The Government believe local authorities are best placed to make decisions on the waste management strategy for their communities and Defra does not therefore intervene in these matters.
	The Waste and Resources Action Programme's (WRAP) ROTATE programme is a free service that provides advice to local authorities on their collection and communication programmes for kerbside recycling. Further information is available from the WRAP website at:
	http://www.wrap.org.uk/local_authorities/rotate/index.html.

Recycling

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of waste was recycled in each region in each of the last four years.

Ben Bradshaw: The percentage of household waste which was recycled or composted in each English region in each of the last four years, is provided in the table as follows.
	
		
			  Region  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 North East 6.6 12.2 15.4 21.1 
			 North West 11.3 14.2 19.2 23.8 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 11.2 14.5 18.6 21.8 
			 East Midlands 15.1 19.3 26.3 31.8 
			 West Midlands 13.0 15.7 19.9 25.1 
			 East 19.4 23.4 29.8 34.1 
			 London 10.9 13.3 17.6 20.7 
			 South East 19.6 22.8 26.1 29.2 
			 South West 18.6 21.4 26.6 31.4 
			 England 14.5 17.8 22.5 26.7 
			  Source:  DEFRA

Scarweather Sands Wind Farm

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the status is of the licence application under the Food and Environmental Protection Act 1985 for Scarweather Sands wind farm; whether there will be further negotiations and consultations before a decision is made; and when he expects a decision to be reached.

Ben Bradshaw: Scarweather wind farm will require a licence from the Welsh Assembly Government under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985. DEFRA's Marine Consents and Environment Unit (MCEU) is administering the application on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government.
	Earlier this year, the developer met with the MCEU, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science. My officials are currently awaiting additional supporting data from the developer in regards to harbour porpoises. This is expected early in the new year.
	This additional supporting data will be assessed in the same way as all other offshore wind farm applications. A decision can only be reached once all the outstanding issues have been resolved to an extent which will allow the National Assembly for Wales to make a decision on the licence application.

Seabird Populations

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the Common Fisheries Policies on seabird populations; and what mitigation measures are under discussion at EU level.

Ben Bradshaw: As part of its proposals for reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, the European Commission has published an action plan on improving environmental integration in fisheries management. The plan indicates that the European Community intends to follow the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) International Plan of Action for Reducing Incidental Catch of Seabirds in Longline Fisheries. The UK is fully supportive of this initiative.
	Little is known about the effects of discarding of fish at sea on seabird populations. For some species it has been shown to have a positive effect by improving foraging possibilities and thus enhancing their populations. Birdlife International, however, concluded that the overall elimination of discards was more important in environmental terms than the short-term beneficial effects their continuation might have for seabirds.
	In 2000, the UK was instrumental in establishing of the closure of the "wee Bankie" grounds—off the coast of eastern Scotland and North East England—to sandeel fishing to protect breeding seabird populations. We have continued to support the closure in the interim.
	Outside EU waters, but still relevant to Community vessels fishing further afield, there are sea bird by-catch mitigation measures in place under Regional Fisheries Management Organisations. These include the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) and the Commission for the Conservation of the Arctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) also has some measures in place. However, these could be more comprehensive. With this in mind, the Government are proposing a study which will assess the impact on sea birds of the Atlantic tuna fishery. The outcome of this research will inform further appropriate conservation management measures.

Shipping Pollution

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to reduce emissions of  (a) sulphur and  (b) nitrogen oxide from shipping.

Ian Pearson: Under the internationally agreed methodology, greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping are excluded from the national greenhouse gas inventory. They are reported separately as a memo item and, if included, would represent less than 1 per cent. of the UK total CO2 emissions.
	The UK's approach to the regulation of shipping is to apply international standards to ships flying its flag and to ships entering its ports or operating in UK waters. Work on reducing maritime emissions is co-ordinated by the International Maritime Organisation. At the last Maritime Environment Protection Committee meeting in October 2006, the UK made a significant contribution to difficult negotiations on the adoption of Interim Guidelines for Voluntary Ship CO2 Emission Indexing for Use in Trials (as well as Guidelines for On-board Exhaust Gas Sulphur Oxide Cleaning Systems). Ships under the United Kingdom flag are being encouraged to participate in these trials, which will help identify a ship's greenhouse gas index where the information obtained may be used in the context of reducing CO2 emissions.
	The UK has also continued to push for the consideration of measures to reduce harmful emissions of a wider range of greenhouse gases, including Nitrogen oxides, and has strongly advocated emissions trading as the most effective tool.

Waste Management

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what private finance initiative schemes his Department is involved in relating to local authority waste collection and disposal.

Ben Bradshaw: To date, 21 waste projects have been approved and supported with private finance initiative (PFI) credits by this Department. Nine of these are operational, 11 of the others are currently in procurement and one project has been terminated. The total PFI credits committed to the 21 projects amounts to 933.84 million.
	The following table shows the projects that have already been awarded PFI credits, those that have been approved, and those that are in the procurement stages.
	
		
			  Project (authority)  Contract signature/approval date  PFI credits (£ million)  Municipal solid waste arisings (tonnes) 
			 Isle of Wight Signed 1997-98 13 77,909 
			 Hereford and Worcester Signed 1998-99 57.4 397,862 
			 Kirklees Signed 1997-98 33.9 244,031 
			 South Gloucestershire Signed 2000-01 34.3 (6)140,000 
			 Surrey Signed 1999 85.5 591,359 
			 Central Berkshire Signed 2006-07 37 238,812 
			 ELWA Signed 2002-03 47 546,592 
			 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove Signed 2002-03 49 379,366 
			 Gloucestershire (terminated) Approved January 2003 31.105 (1)292,000 
			 Leicester Signed 2004 30.84 146,218 
			 West Sussex Signed 2003-04 25 463,650 
			 West Berkshire(2) Approved June 2003 28.49 83,643 
			 Cornwall(3) Signed 2006-07 45 285,315 
			 Cheshire County Council Approved May 2006 40 433,102 
			 Nottinghamshire(4) Signed 2006-07 38.31 468,678 
			 Lancashire Approved October 2003 90 667,479 
			 Northumberland(5) Approved April 2004 40.8 (6)175,000 
			 Shropshire Approved September 2004 35.8 (6)188,000 
			 Wakefield MDC Approved December 2004 33 (6)200,000 
			 Manchester WDA Approved January 2005 100 (6)1,483,000 
			 LB of Southwark Approved January 2005 34.5 (6)135,000 
			 Cambridgeshire CC Approved January 2005 35 (6)280,000 
			 (1) Includes additional £5 million approved in December 2004 (2) Includes additional £4.75 million approved in December 2004 (3) Includes additional £4.9 million approved in February 2004 and additional £15.1 million approved in 2006 (4) Includes additional £6.38million approved in December 2005 (5) Includes additional £6.8million approved in October 2006 (6) Figures are for 2003-04. The other municipal solid waste arisings are for 2001-02

Waste Management

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated average cost per bulb is of the disposal of  (a) an incandescent light bulb and  (b) an energy efficient light bulb for the purposes of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today PQ No. 106739.

Water Use

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of changes in total water use since 1997; and what proportion of this change has resulted from changes in  (a) per capita household demand,  (b) population levels,  (c) demand from business and industry,  (d) demand from agriculture and  (e) other areas.

Ian Pearson: There has been a decline in water use by non-households of around 365 megalitres per day (MI/d) since 1997-98. In contrast, household use has increased by around 330 MI/d in the same period. Therefore, the volume of water use as a whole has remained largely unchanged.
	The rise in household use is mainly due to a rising population rather than increasing per capita consumption. Average per capita consumption has remained stable over the period being around 150 litres per head per day in an average year.
	The total amount of water put into the supply network (distribution input) has shown a decline of around 325MI/d since 1997-98. This reflects the progress made by the water industry in reducing leakage during this period.
	Table 1, produced using figures from Ofwat, shows water use for household and non household customers in each year since 1997-98 in MI/d. Table 2 shows the total average household consumption in litres per head per day for each year since 1997-98.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			   Water use-household MI/d  Water use non-household Ml/d  Total  Distribution input 
			 1997-98 7,430 4,047 11,477 15,683 
			 1998-99 7,348 3,926 11,274 15,056 
			 1999-2000 7,557 3,938 11,495 15,058 
			 2000-01 7,557 3,871 11,455 14,991 
			 2001-02 7,734 3,871 11,605 15,326 
			 2002-03 7,643 3,825 11,468 15,404 
			 2003-04 7,848 3,832 11,680 15,658 
			 2004-05 7,676 3,756 11,432 15,378 
			 2005-06 7,760 3,683 11,443 15,356 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 
			   Industry average 
			 1997-98 149 
			 1998-99 146 
			 1999-2000 149 
			 2000-01 149 
			 2001-02 150 
			 2002-03 150 
			 2003-04 154 
			 2004-05 150 
			 2005-06 151 
			  Note: Averages are weighted by population of households 
		
	
	The Environment Agency do not have the data for the volume of water used by agriculture from public water supply. However, in their water resources strategy they did not identify agricultural use as a major component of public water supply, nor do water companies identify it as such in their annual returns and water resource plans.
	Table 3 provides data on the volumes directly abstracted for agricultural use and the percentage of total non-tidal surface and groundwater abstraction for which agricultural abstraction is responsible.
	
		
			  Table 3 
			  Percentage 
			   Irrigation  General agriculture  Total  Irr  Gen  Total 
			 1991 365 134 498 0.93 0.34 1.27 
			 1992 269 127 396 0.60 0.28 0.88 
			 1993 162 140 303 0.47 0.41 0.88 
			 1994 284 119 403 0.88 0.37 1.25 
			 1995 351 103 454 1.06 0.31 1.37 
			 1996 368 136 504 1.02 0.38 1.40 
			 1997 291 107 399 0.79 0.29 1.08 
			 1998 281 111 392 0.67 0.26 0.94 
			 1999 324 141 466 0.81 0.35 1.16 
			 2000 291 152 443 0.71 0.37 1.08 
			 2001 258 108 366 0.64 0.27 0.91 
			 2002 248 120 368 0.63 0.31 0.94 
			 2003 315 131 446 0.84 0.35 1.19 
			  Notes: 1. Data pre 1994 is of lower reliability. 2. Irrigation abstraction is seasonally (summer) and location specific, so its environmental impact is out of proportion to its percentage of the total. 
		
	
	The yearly fluctuation in irrigation is down to climatic issue. As irrigation in this country can largely be regarded as 'topping up' of rainfall, the national totals are very dependant on the amount of rainfall received that year and when it fell.

Armed Forces Deployment

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel are based in  (a) Germany and  (b) Cyprus; and if his Department will estimate the annual cost of keeping the force in (i) Germany and (ii) Cyprus.

Adam Ingram: Figures for the number of people posted in Germany and Cyprus are shown in Tri Service Publication 6, Global Location of UK Regular Forces (TSP 6).
	TSP 6 is published quarterly; the most recent publication shows the numbers of service personnel at 1 July 2006. Copies of TSP 6 are available in the Library of the House and also on www.dasa.mod.uk.
	Figures for the marginal cost of keeping the forces in Germany are not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The estimated cost, for financial year 2006-07, of maintaining all British Forces in Cyprus is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However the costs for maintaining the Chief of Joint Operations area, which forms the majority of the British Forces in Cyprus is £156 million. In addition, the Sovereign Base Administration Areas (SBAAs) in Cyprus are estimated as costing a further £12 million in financial year 2006-07 (a total of £168 million).

Armoured Vehicles

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effect he expects the purchase of Vector and Cougar armoured vehicles to have on procurement of the Future Rapid Effects System project; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 29 November 2006
	The purchase of the Vector and Cougar armoured vehicles will have no direct effect on the Future Rapid Effect System programme. Vector and Cougar are light armoured vehicles that have been purchased to meet an urgent requirement on current operations.
	FRES will deliver a fleet of medium-weight wheeled and tracked armoured vehicles with higher levels of strategic deployability, survivability and lethality than lighter armoured vehicles can provide.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  why he intends to increase expenditure within Departmental Expenditure Limits for subheads  (a) Request for Resources 1-F and  (b) Request for Resources 1-J; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  why he intends to reduce resource expenditure within Departmental Expenditure Limits for subheads:  (a) Request for Resources 1-A;  (b) Request for Resources 1-B;  (c) Request for Resources 1-C;  (d) Request for Resources 1-D; Request for Resources 1-E;  (f) Request for Resources 1-G;  (g) Request for Resources 1-H;  (h) Request for Resources 1-I; Request for Resources 1-K; and  (j) Request for Resources 1-L; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The majority of these changes to the Departmental Expenditure Limit relate to the Department's fixed asset management project which is part of the Defence Resource Management Programme to 'simplify and improve' financial processes across the Department. The changes reflect the centralisation of fixed asset management under four single balance sheet owners (SBSOs) Defence Estates (DE), Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO), Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) and the Defence Communications Services Agency (DCSA), which is part of the DLO. This resulted in net increases to the Defence Logistics Organisation and Defence Estates, offset by reductions in the other TLBs. There will be further adjustments in the Spring Supplementary Estimates.
	Other changes have been made to Top Level Budget Holders (TLB) allocations of Resource funding to bring the allocations into line with responsibility transfers between TLBs, and other adjustments to reflect the Defence outputs required since Main Estimates.

Gender Equality

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish his Department's gender equality scheme.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence has already published the requirements of the gender equality scheme in its first overarching MOD Equality and Diversity Scheme 2006-09. The scheme encompasses the armed forces, civilians, the Ministry of Defence police and Executive agencies. The scheme fulfils the Department's legal obligations to have an equality scheme in place under current race legislation, as well as future disability which came into force on 4 December 2006.
	Copies of the scheme and its associated action plans are available in the Library of the House and have also been published on the Department's website.

Ground Based Interceptors

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will estimate the financial cost to the UK of  (a) procuring, deploying and operating Ground Based Interceptors from the US missile defence Ground based Midcourse Defence system and  (b) developing, procuring, deploying and operating a missile for the Type-45 destroyers that has equivalent or similar anti ballistic missile capability to the US Standard Missile-3.

Des Browne: No decisions have yet been taken on whether or not to acquire ballistic missile defence for the United Kingdom. Work by officials continues to examine potential options for future UK participation in a missile defence system, including the strategic, cost and legal issues arising. UK officials are also working with their NATO counterparts to consider the implications of a NATO Feasibility Study into options for Alliance missile defence. Given the range of options that might be available it is premature to speculate on the possible costs.

Harmony Guidelines

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of personnel serving with  (a) Harrier squadrons,  (b) Nimrod aircraft and  (c) Royal Air Force Regiment Field Squadrons exceed the harmony guidelines.

Adam Ingram: The Royal Air Force reports against Harmony Guidelines for formed unit tour intervals, and against Individual Separated Service guidelines for personnel. Nimrod squadrons do not deploy as formed units. RAF Harrier squadrons and Regiment Field Squadrons deploy as formed units but not all personnel serving with the squadrons deploy at once.
	As unit tour intervals do not specify the percentage of personnel who deploy, data has been supplied based on Individual Separated Service. The figures for the percentage of personnel serving with RAF Harrier, Nimrod, and RAF Regiment Field Squadrons who exceeded the RAF Individual Separated Service guideline of 140 days of detached duty in a rolling 12-month period are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Unit  Percentage of RAF personnel exceeding 140 days in rolling 12 month period to 30 September 2006 
			 RAF Harrier squadrons (1 and 4 Sqns, 20 (R) Sqn-Harrier Operational Conversion Unit) (1)2.9 
			 Nimrod squadrons (51, 120 and 201 Sqns, and 42 (R) Sqn—Nimrod Operational Conversion Unit) (1)0.5 
			 RAF Regiment Field Squadrons (1, 2, 3, 34, 51 Sqns and 63 (Queens Colour) Sqn) (1)11.7 
			 (1) Provisional. Due to the introduction of a new Personnel Administration System for the RAF, all RAF data from 1 May 2006 are provisional and subject to review. 
		
	
	As at 30 September 2006, 0 per cent. of the personnel serving with the Royal Navy Harrier squadrons (800 and 801 Naval Air Squadron) exceeded Royal Navy Separated Service guidelines of 660 days in a rolling three year period.

HMS Vanguard

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was of the refit of HMS Vanguard; and over what periods the costs were included in the expenditure accounts.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 29 November 2006
	The cost of HMS Vanguard's long overhaul period (refuel), formerly referred to as a refit, up to the end of the last financial year, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  HMS Vanguard spend profile 
			   £ million 
			 2000-01 7 
			 2001-02 45 
			 2002-03 114 
			 2003-04 84 
			 2004-05 40 
			 2005-06 2 
			 Total 291 
		
	
	The costs have been rounded to the nearest £1 million and include planning work generic to the class as a whole.
	No further costs are anticipated, although a refund of some £6 million is anticipated in this financial year in accordance with the target cost incentive fee arrangement.

Home Ownership Schemes

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any of the staff in his Department who are not serving members of the armed forces are classed as key workers for the purposes of the  (a) low-cost home ownership and  (b) shared ownership schemes.

Derek Twigg: Ministry of Defence civilian personnel who are classed as key workers for the purposes of low cost home ownership schemes such as the new build home buy shared equity scheme are:
	Members of the Ministry of Defence Police
	Uniformed members of the Defence Fire Service
	Clinical staff excluding doctors and dentists.

Iraq and Afghanistan: Resources

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what his Department's estimate is for Direct Resource Expenditure in Request for Resources 2 in Iraq and Afghanistan for 2006-07 calculated on the same basis as table 1 of the memorandum sent to the Defence Select Committee on 6 March 2006;
	(2)  what his Department's estimate is for Capital Expenditure in Request for Resources 2 in Iraq and Afghanistan for 2006-07 calculated on the same basis as table 2 of the memorandum sent to the Defence Select Committee on 6 March 2006.

Derek Twigg: The increase in Direct Resource and Capital expenditure in Request for Resources 2 in Iraq and Afghanistan is set out in the tables. These follow the same format as that contained in the Estimates Memorandum sent to the Defence Select Committee on 6 March 2006.
	There is no separate contingency identified in our winter supplementary claim.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   2006-07 
			  Cost type  Iraq  Afghanistan 
			  Resource—direct   
			 Personnel 77 32 
			 Stock/other consumption 191 103 
			 Infrastructure costs 106 73 
			 Equipment support costs 189 81 
			 Other costs and services 112 67 
			 Income foregone 5 4 
			 Total 680 360 
		
	
	
		
			  £ million 
			   2006-07 
			  Cost type  Iraq  Afghanistan 
			  Capital   
			 Capital additions 180 180

Military Vehicles

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the expected running costs per mile are of the BvS10 Viking all-terrain vehicle, including routine maintenance;
	(2)  what the cost is of the BvS10 Viking all terrain vehicle  (a) as supplied and  (b) with slatted armour as delivered to Camp Bastion in Helmand Province;
	(3)  what the maximum speed is of a BvS10 Viking all terrain vehicle when driven on paved roadways;
	(4)  what the cost is, excluding that of the weapon, of providing the general purpose machine gun station on the BvS10 Viking all terrain vehicle; and what protection the station affords from sniper fire.

Adam Ingram: The BvSl0 Viking all terrain vehicles entered service in April 2006 and vehicle capitation (mileage) rates are not yet available.
	There are three variants of the BvSl0 Viking; the Troop Carrying variant; the Command variant; and the Repair and Recovery variant. The average capital cost per vehicle across all three variants is £348,000. The cost per vehicle for the additional armour and the general purpose machine gun station is estimated at £11,000 and £20,000 respectively. The vehicle has a maximum road speed of 65km/h.
	I am withholding information relating to the level of protection afforded by the general purpose machine gun station as disclosure would compromise operational security.

Military Vehicles

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) data on running costs and  (b) other economic data were obtained in relation to the vehicles evaluated during the Future Command Liaison Vehicle procurement; and whether the RG-31 was one of the vehicles evaluated.

Adam Ingram: Indicative whole life costs were received from the contractors during the assessment phase, in relation to the vehicles evaluated. This included the RG 31 which was offered as part of the assessment phase in 2001 for the Future Command and Liaison Vehicle. The three bids for demonstration, manufacture and support contained a more detailed lifecycle cost model as part of their tender, but the RG 31 was not one of those bids.

Private Finance Initiative

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total capital value is of each private finance initiative scheme overseen by his Department which has reached financial close; over what period repayments will take place; and what the total cost of repayment will be.

Adam Ingram: The following table sets out the centrally held information on PFI projects. These are projects that fall within the scope of the definition of PFI, set out in the HMT document "PFI: Meeting the Investment Challenge" (July 2003) i.e. PFI projects that do not predominantly involve Information Technology and those generally with a capital value above £20 million.
	
		
			  Project name  Estimated capital value (£ million)  Contract length (Year)  Total estimated contract payments (£ million) 
			 Army Foundation College 65 30 643 
			 ASTUTE Class Training Service 73 36 551 
			 Attack Helicopters Training—Apache Simulator Training 232 19 652 
			 Bristol, Bath and Portsmouth Family Married Quarters 78 28 239 
			 C vehicles 14 5 42 
			 Central Scotland Family Quarters 24 24 4 
			 Colchester Garrison 539 35 2,901 
			 defence Animal Centre 11 25 10 
			 Defence Helicopter Flying School 68 15 188 
			 Defence Sixth Form College 51 30 386 
			 Devonport Support Service-ARMADA 45 25 513 
			 Field Electrical Power Supplies 73 20 228 
			 NRTA Fire Fighting Training Units 22 20 119 
			 Hawk Simulator Training Service 20 18 38 
			 Heavy Equipment Transporters 65 22 404 
			 Joint Services Command and Staff College 93 35 540 
			 Light Aircraft Flying Training 20 10 115 
			 Main Building Refurbishment 439 30 2,348 
			 Medium Support Helicopter Aircrew Training Facility 114 20 323 
			 Aquatrine Package A 154 25 998 
			 Aquatrine Package B 49 25 377 
			 Aquatrine Package C 174 25 1,044 
			 Northwood Headquarters 162 25 1,143 
			 Portsmouth Housing 2 27 27 81 
			 Allenby/Connaught 1,257 35 7,317 
			 RAF Cosford and Shawbury Family Quarters 15 25 53 
			 RAF Lossiemouth Family Quarters 34 20 81 
			 Strategic Sealift (Ro-Ro Ferries) 195 24 599 
			 Skynet 5 1,079 16 3,660 
			 Tornado GR4 Simulator 54 21 205 
			 Tri Service Materials Handling Service 35 10 88 
			 Naval Communications 58 30 236 
			 Wattisham Married Quarters 13 25 138 
		
	
	The Department has signed a further 25 deals, that are either below £20 million or involve a significant IT/IS element. Information is not held centrally on them and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

R and D Costs

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated research and development costs are for the  (a) Type-45 destroyer and  (b) Astute submarine programme.

Adam Ingram: The estimated Design and Development costs for the Type 45 destroyer are £1,562 million and for the Astute submarine programme, £1,104 million (outturn prices).

Spare Parts

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department has been of the loss of spare parts while being delivered to their intended destination in each of the last two years.

Adam Ingram: While losses in transit have been recorded since 2005-06, data is not held in such a way that would enable separate identification of the cost of losses relating to 'spare parts'.

Troop Transportation

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) aircraft and  (b) RAF personnel are involved in the transportation of UK forces to and from deployments.

Adam Ingram: In support of Operation Herrick (Afghanistan) there are currently four RAF passenger-carrying aircraft and four freight-carrying aircraft per week. A further two chartered commercial freight-carrying aircraft per week are also used. During periods of surge, further passenger and freight aircraft are flown to meet planned increases in operational demand. A fleet of up to four RAF tactical aircraft are used to meet logistical requirements in-theatre; and again this number may be increased to support surge requirements.
	In support of Operation Telic (Iraq) there are currently four charter passenger-carrying commercial flights operating each week into Qatar, from where passengers are transferred into Theatre using RAF tactical airlift. To support freight requirements the RAF operates three military flights per week which are supplemented by a further two chartered aircraft. During periods of surge, further passenger and freight aircraft are flown to meet planned increases in operational demand. A fleet of up to four RAF tactical aircraft are used to meet logistical requirements in-theatre; again this number may be increased to support surge requirements.
	Information on personnel involved in the transportation of UK forces to and from deployments could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Energy Costs

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average household energy bill was in  (a) England and Wales,  (b) England and  (c) Wales in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Energywatch have estimated the typical standard credit energy bill in Great Britain as £642 for gas and £388 for electricity giving a total bill of £1,030. Separate data for Wales, England and Scotland are not available.
	Actual bills will be affected by a number of factors, including the number of customers switching supplier and/or payment methods, and future tariff changes from the energy suppliers.

Energy Efficiency

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  whether  (a) incandescent light bulbs and  (b) energy efficient light bulbs are subject to the provisions of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether  (a) incandescent and  (b) energy efficient light bulbs including compact fluorescent bulbs are subject to the provisions of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Directive; what the estimated average cost of disposal per bulb is in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Incandescent light bulbs are not subject to the provisions of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive, but energy efficient light bulbs, including compact fluorescent bulbs, are. According to industry estimates it costs 20 - 25 pence to treat a fluorescent bulb. This treatment cost information appeared in the partial Regulatory Impact Assessment published as part of the consultation on draft WEEE regulations, which ended on October 17. A final Regulatory Impact Assessment will accompany the WEEE Regulations when they are laid before the House in early December.

Energy Policy

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many meetings he and his Ministers have had in the last 12 months with  (a) the Department for Communities and Local Government and  (b) HM Treasury on the promotion of (i) decentralised energy and (ii) combined heat and power technologies.

Alistair Darling: holding answer 27 November 2006
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and I have held regular discussions in the last 12 months with the Department of Communities and Local Government/HMT on a range of energy issues including the promotion of decentralised energy and combined heat and power technologies.

Energy Supply

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the contribution of residual municipal solid waste for the production of energy to the security of energy supply; and if he will make a statement on its overall position in the energy mix.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 4 December 2006
	The Government's waste policy prioritises prevention, reuse and recycling over the recovery of energy from residual wastes. But where prevention, reuse and recycling are not practical, recovering energy from waste could displace fossil generation and contribute to our energy policy and climate change goals as a secure source of low carbon energy. DEFRA have indicated energy from residual waste could provide some 6 TWh by 2020.
	DTI commissioned Ilex Energy Consultants to look at the potential contribution from energy from waste during the Review of the Renewables Obligation in 2005 and the reports are available at http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file21117.pdf and http://www.dti.gov.uk/files/file22325.pdf. Following the Review eligibility for energy from waste was extended to include good quality CHP projects and dedicated biomass projects from which at least 90 per cent. of the energy produced came from biomass.

Post Office

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices there were in each constituency in  (a) 1999 and  (b) 2005, listed in descending order of the change in the number of sub-post offices between the two dates.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The question raised relates to operational matters for which Post Office Ltd. is directly responsible. The company compiles figures for Post Office branches in each parliamentary constituency on an annual basis. This information is placed in and is available from the Libraries of the House.

Public Bodies

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much funding his Department gave to the  (a) Central Arbitration Committee,  (b) Competition Appeal Tribunal,  (c) Copyright Tribunal,  (d) Employment Appeal Tribunal,  (e) Employment Tribunals,  (f) Insolvency Practitioners Panel,  (g) Persons Hearing Consumer Credit,  (h) Licensing Appeals Tribunal and  (i) Persons Hearing Estate Agent Appeals in each of the last five years; and how much has been provided to each body in 2006-07.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 4 December 2006
	Funding which DTI gave (or DTI has provided for in the case of 2006-07) to the following bodies in the years shown:
	
		
			  £ 000 
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			  Central Arbitration Committee 1,170 990 970 1,010 770 800 
			 DTI does not fund the CAC directly, but DTI does fund AC AS, which is statutorily responsible for resourcing the CAC   
			
			  Competition Appeal Tribunal 0 0 499 682 646 777 
			 The CAT came into being on 1 April 2003. In addition to the CAT costs, running costs are met by the Competition Service. These CS operating costs were 0 0 2,093 2,692 2,953 2,973 
			
			  Copyright Tribunal   
			 The Patent Office pays the costs of running the CT. DTI has not paid any such costs. — — — — — — 
			
			  Employment Appeal Tribunal   
			 Employment Tribunals 55,042 64,376 68,321 68,131 73,762 0 
			 ETs and the EAT are co-funded through the Employment Tribunals Service (which became the Tribunals Service in April 2006) DTI funding ceased from April 2006, as responsibility transferred to DCA. The costs shown are for ETs and the EAT combined, the overwhelming majority relating to ETs.   
			
			  Insolvency Practitioners Tribunal   
			 A maximum of £4,000 has been spent in any one year on IPT costs, and 2004-05 was the last time costs were incurred. — — — — — — 
			
			  Persons Hearing Consumer Credit Licensing Appeals Tribunal 24 9 29 18 37 30 
			
			  Persons Hearing Estate Agent Appeals 0 0 7 4 6 8

Family-friendly Policies

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent discussions she has had with the Secretaries of State for  (a) Education,  (b) Health and  (c) Trade and Industry on the introduction of family friendly policies; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Munn: I have had no recent discussions with the Secretaries of State for Education, Health and Trade and Industry on the introduction of family friendly policies.
	Government are committed to giving children the best start in life, to enable all families to have genuine choices about how they balance their work and family responsibilities and to help business to recruit and retain the best people.
	Since 2003, parents of children under the age of six and disabled children have had the right to request flexible working. The Work and Families Act 2006 builds on this further by establishing a balanced package of rights and responsibilities, for both employers and employees, in line with the Government's better regulation agenda. Some of the measures within the Act include extending the right to request flexible working to the carers of adults, extending the period for payment of Statutory Maternity Pay, Maternity Allowance and Statutory Adoption Pay to a maximum of 52 weeks and giving fathers and new right to an additional period of paternity leave.

Bonus Payments

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff in her predecessor Department received bonus payments in each of the last five years for which information is available; what proportion of the total work force they represented; what the total amount of bonuses paid was; what the largest single payment was in each year; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Smith: Available information on bonus payments to senior civil servants (SCS) and non-SCS staff in my predecessor Department, in respect of overall performance and exceptional performance on specific tasks or at specific times, is set out as follows.
	
		
			   Number of staff receiving awards  Proportion of staff group receiving awards (percentage)  Total amount of award (£)  Largest award (£) 
			  Senior civil servants 
			 With effect from: 
			 1 April 2006(1) 83 67 570,000 12,500 
			 1 April 2005 86 72 426,000 9,500 
			 1 April 2004 71 59 343,000 9,650 
			  
			  Non-SCS staff 
			 With effect from: 
			 1 August 2005(1,2) 503 24 170,000 600 
			 1 August 2004 293 14 126,000 600 
			 1 August 2003 237 11 86,000 500 
			  
			  Special bonus awards 
			 During: 
			 2005-06(1) 301 14 105,000 600 
			 2004-06 400 19 116,000 600 
			 2003-04 356 17 116,000 600 
			 (1) This amends some figures given in a previous answer of 6 November 2006,  Official Report, columns 868-69W. (2) Performance awards were extended to further grades of non-SCS staff with effect from 1 August 2005.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have introduced local council tax discounts under the Local Government Act 2003; and what the  (a) level and  (b) nature of the discount was in the most recent year for which information is available.

Phil Woolas: A table detailing which local authorities have introduced local council tax discounts under the Local Government Act 2003 along with the level and nature of the discount is shown. These data, the latest available, were collected on CTB Supplementary forms submitted by each local authority as at October 2005.
	
		
			  Local council tax discounts introduced as a result of the Local Government Act 2003 
			  Authority name  Have used power prior to  1 October 2005  Plan to use power after 1 October 2005  Details provided by authority 
			 Adur Yes Yes There are eight accounts where the occupiers were previously granted disabled relief based on previous guidelines. When the Sandwell MBC case was determined and the results published we looked at the decisions previously made and determined to protect those cases where changing the decision would have had financial implications to the taxpayer through no fault of their own. In these cases we have agreed to an 15 per cent. reduction on the council tax bill as a local discount. 
			 Ashford Yes Yes — 
			 Bridgnorth Yes Yes The council determined that unoccupied furnished dwellings that are not connected to mains services would continue to receive 50 per cent. discount. 
			 Brighton and Hove Yes Yes Any unoccupied and substantially unfurnished domestic property, not otherwise exempt from council tax, which constitutes a self contained part of a building of which the whole is not domestic property and, by reason of its situation in relation to a part of the building that is not domestic property, is difficult to let separately will have liability to pay council tax reduced to 50 per cent. 
			 Bromsgrove Yes No — 
			 Camden No Yes A local exemption class may be created where the taxpayer is forced to leave their main home in Camden unoccupied due to serious damage caused by external environmental factors beyond their control and where statutory exemptions would not otherwise apply. For any local exemption class created, the exemption will cease after 12 months or upon reoccupation of the main home, whichever is sooner. 
			 Canterbury Yes Yes A decision was made to award a 50 per cent. discount to 123 beach chalets. 
			 Carlisle Yes Yes As a result of the flooding which Carlisle suffered in January 2005 it was decided that we would award a 25 per cent. discount to properties which had suffered some flood damage but the residents are still living in the property. The discount will cease when all the work is completed and the property is fully habitable again. There are currently 84 properties in receipt of this discount and the current cost to the authority for the year is £32,465.24. 
			 Chiltern Yes Yes The discount on Second Homes has been reduced from 50 per cent. to 10 per cent. with effect from 1 April 2005 and applies across the whole of the district. 
			 Copeland Yes Yes 50 per cent. discount allowed on beach chalets where there is no mains water or electricity. 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire UA Yes Yes As 50 per cent. discount on a new property which is in the course of construction and for which a completion notice has been served, which has become part occupied, for a maximum period of 12 months or until the property is substantially completed, whichever is the sooner. 
			 Exeter Yes Yes We have given discounts to persons who were in receipt of disablement reduction on 31 March 2004 and whose entitlement would cease due to the High Court decision in the Sandwell case. The discount is equivalent to the property being assessed as if it were in the council tax band below the actual band, ie it is exactly equivalent to the disablement reduction they would otherwise have received. 
			 Greenwich Yes No — 
			 Herefordshire UA Yes Yes Applications in respect of properties affected by flooding—up to 100 per cent. Applications in respect of empty properties owned by registered social landlords—up to 50 per cent. Applications regarding empty properties owned by registered social landlords, used as guest accommodation in warden controlled complexes—up to 50 per cent. Applications in respect of unoccupied almshouses; unfurnished—up to 50 per cent.; furnished—up to 40 per cent. Applications in respect of properties that are no-one's sole or main residence where access is restricted; unfurnished—up to 50 per cent.; furnished—up to 40 per cent. 
			 Horsham Yes Yes Locally defined discounts (applicable from 1 April 2004). Any property where a disabled resident has either a room, or part of a room (other than a bedroom) set aside to accommodate a disabled resident's bed or other equipment which is of major importance to the disabled resident may be entitled to 15 per cent. discount. A property where a room houses braille or similar communications equipment for the use of a visually impaired resident may be entitled to 15 per cent. discount. Any property that is unoccupied following fire, flood or storm damage and requires remedial works to render it fit for re-habitation may be entitled to 100 per cent. exemption. 
			 Kingston upon Hull UA Yes Yes A reserve forces discount is offered to single occupiers. There is currently only one person claiming this discount. 
			 Leicester UA Yes Yes A 50 per cent. charge is levied on furnished but unoccupied property for the first six months of the property falling into this category. After six months, the discount is reduced to 10 per cent. 
			 Malvern Hills Yes Yes A 15 per cent. discount (in addition to the 10 per cent. statutory minimum) has been granted in respect of 45 furnished wooden chalets on a site which is subject to flooding and can only be occupied for 8 months of the year. 
			 North Norfolk Yes Yes — 
			 Oswestry Yes Yes — 
			 Purbeck Yes Yes Charge on furnished unoccupied dwelling reduced to 50 per cent. (from 90 per cent.) having regard to particular circumstances of the individual circumstances. 
			 South Hams Yes Yes The council has, to date, only used this power on one occasion—to grant relief to a second home which is adapted for and is visited by a disabled child. The council will use this power during the remainder of the year if an appropriate circumstance occurs. 
			 South Lakeland Yes Yes A 50 per cent. council tax discount is awarded to properties located in the vicinity of a beach which are used as beach huts or beach chalets which fall within Valuation Band A in the council tax valuation list and which do not fall within properties prescribed under Class A of the (Prescribed Classes of Dwellings)(England) Regulations 2003. 
			 South Ribble Yes No — 
			 Waveney Yes Yes — 
			 Welwyn Hatfield Yes Yes This applies to a local discount awarded on an empty property that has experienced problems with chalk mines. 
			 Wigan No Yes On an individual case basis only and considering each application on its own merit. 
			 Wirral Yes Yes Womens Refuge. Refuge + 2 Flats. 50 per cent. Disc 
			 Wycombe No Yes The authority will consider individual claims for relief on the grounds of hardship. This is not confined to strict financial hardship All relevant factors affecting the ability of the council tax payer to meet its liability for council tax should be taken into account.

Departmental Expenditure

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department spent on  (a) external room hire and  (b) conference exhibition stands in the last year for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The costs for external room hire incurred by the Department are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	In the last financial year (2005-06) the Department spent £303,000 on our corporate attendance at 60 external conferences and events covering core areas of the Department's policy remit. Events included the LGA annual conference, the Social Housing exhibition, the national Fire Safety conference, the CIH Lettings and Homelessness conference, and the Young People Now annual conference.

Fire and Resilience Directorate

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff are to be removed from the establishment of divisions forming the Fire and Resilience Directorate of her Department in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08; and what percentage of total employees per division these figures represent.

Angela Smith: The Fire and Resilience Directorate is integrating and rationalising the work of two former directorates (the Civil Resilience Directorate and the Fire and Rescue Service Directorate). This is part of an ongoing process within the Department and is not exclusive to the Fire and Resilience Directorate. The directorate is seeking to reduce its administrative budget (pay and non-pay costs) in this financial year. It has not yet been possible to identify the precise number of posts as this is dependent on more detailed consideration of future policy and operational needs, and we estimate that this will affect approximately 24 posts. The following table sets out the percentage of staff affected per division.
	For next year, work is being progressed to review priorities and the resourcing required.
	
		
			  Fire and Resilience Directorate—total staff( 1)  = 198 
			   Per division 
			  Administration budget  Staff number  Estimated reduction  Percentage 
			 Central Support Team 32 2 6.2 
			 Fire and Rescue Service Development Team 36 6 16.6 
			 Fire and Resilience Policy Team 22 1 4.5 
			 Regional Resilience and Emergency Response 4 0 — 
			 Research and Statistics 41 0 — 
			 HM Fire Service Inspectorate 27 7 25.4 
			 Fire and Resilience Programme 36 8 22.2 
			 Total 198 24 12.1 
			 (1 )Total staff includes: permanent civil servants personnel seconded from the fire and rescue service and Local Government casual and agency staff.

Home Information Packs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations she has received from the Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors on home information packs since her decision to make home condition reports voluntary.

Yvette Cooper: The Department has had an extensive dialogue with the Royal Institute for Chartered Surveyors (RICS) throughout the development of the HIPs programme. Since the July announcement on HIPs there has been a substantial amount of correspondence with Ministers and officials as well as meetings and telephone conversations.

Local Government Restructuring

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether a full council is required to ratify the decision of a local authority to bid for unitary status under the Local Government White Paper proposals.

Phil Woolas: A proposal for future unitary structures must be submitted by a council or a group of two or more councils. Whether the decision to submit a proposal requires a decision by full council is a matter for individual authorities, having regard to the governance arrangements that they have adopted.

Muslim Groups

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) dates and  (b) locations have been of the meetings of the Muslim Forum Against Islamophobia and Extremism; and what the forward work plan is for this group.

Phil Woolas: Locally organised Forums Against Extremism and Islamophobia are a recommendation from the Preventing Extremism Together Working Groups report, published in November 2005.
	To date four such forums have been established with Department for Communities and Local Government support.
	Leicester—first meeting 18 June, second meeting 29 October
	Redbridge—first meeting 24 June, second meeting 3 November
	Dudley—first meeting 3 July
	Blackburn first meeting 5 September
	The objective of the forums is to create sustainable local groups which will:
	seek to understand the causes and extent of the harm caused to the Muslim and wider community by extremism and Islamaphobia in their areas
	encourage grass route resistance to extremist messages and
	work with local partners as appropriate to take action to reduce it.
	It is expected that further forums will be established and the Local Government White Paper encourages local authorities to work with their Muslim communities to facilitate forums in their areas as a means of tackling extremism and Islamaphobia.

Recycling

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been paid to local authorities to fund their additional responsibilities for recycling televisions and monitors containing cathode ray tubes; what estimate she has made of the annual amount required to fund this recycling; and what proportion of the total increase of costs to local authorities the extra funding represents.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The English local authorities received an interim payment is £12.269 million as part of the Local Government Settlement for 2006-07 to cover the treatment of separately collected CRTs and fluorescent tubes from 13 August 2005 to 1 June 2006, and ODS equipment from 1 April 2006 until 1 June 2006. They have been asked to provide details of what further costs are being incurred to allow us to make a reasonable assessment of what further funding is required until producers become responsible for these costs under the WEEE Regulations, which we expect to lay before the House shortly.

Renewable Energy

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  whether it is the policy of the Department's inspectors to write planning policies requiring on-site renewable energy targets into Local Development Frameworks;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the extent to which planning inspectors are applying  (a) PPS22 and  (b) the requirement for on-site renewable energy in new developments.

Yvette Cooper: Officials have written to all planning authorities enclosing a copy of my June Statement and hi doing so underlined that those authorities which had not yet taken steps to include such policies in their plans should do so at the next available opportunity. Government Offices are active in their regions in encouraging regional planning bodies and planning authorities to bring forward regional spatial strategies and local development documents in line with national policies.
	All Inspectors who will undertake the examination of development plan documents have had the Statement drawn to their attention and made aware of the importance placed by Government on the use of on-site renewable energy. An Inspector will check that the planning authority has prepared the development plan document legally and test whether it is 'sound'. In doing so, the Inspector will consider whether the document is consistent with national planning policy. After the examination, the Inspector will produce a report with recommendations which will be binding on the authority. Where necessary, the report will set out precise recommendations for how the document must be changed. All Inspectors are familiar with government planning policies, including on renewable energy and their work is subject to periodic monitoring by the Planning Inspectorate.
	My June Statement confirmed that in the most recent plans scrutinised to-date there had been increasing take-up of the policy in PPS22 to secure the use of on-site renewables in new developments. The Statement provided the details of where the review could be viewed on the Communities website. Subsequently, the Town and Country Planning Association published their own survey highlighting "an impressive surge in on-site renewable energy policies". This suggested that more than 170 local authorities were "working up policies to require developers to generate clean, safe energy on-site in new developments".

Standards Board

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many complaints have been upheld by the Adjudication Panel after being referred by the Standards Board in each year since 2001;
	(2)  how many complaints against elected members of  (a) local authorities and  (b) parish councils in each year between 2001 and 2006 are outstanding at the Adjudication Panel following referral by the Standards Board;
	(3)  how many complaints against elected members of  (a) local authorities and  (b) parish councils referred to the Adjudication Panel by the Standards Board concerned the failure to declare a (i) non-financial interest and (ii) personal interest in each year since its creation;
	(4)  how many complaints against elected members of  (a) local authorities and  (b) parish councils referred to the Adjudication Panel by the Standards Board have taken longer than 12 months to reach a decision in each year since its creation;
	(5)  how many complaints have been received by the Standards Board in each year since 2001;
	(6)  how many complaints have been referred to the Adjudication Panel by the Standards Board in each year since its creation.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Banbury on 28 November 2006,  Official Report, column 536-538W.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many domestic properties in England are classified by the Valuation Office Agency with a dwellinghouse code of  (a) Conservatory Type: D,  (b) Conservatory Type: S,  (c) Conservatory Type: G and  (d) Conservatory Type: U.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Domestic properties—England 
			   Conservatory type dwellinghouse code  Number 
			 (a) D 86,811 
			 (b) S 62,411 
			 (c) G 43,174 
			 (d) U 522,433 
			  Note: As at 3 November 2006.

Volunteering

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the impact of Government policies on the availability of early-retired people to assist the voluntary sector in future years; and if she will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Government's Opportunity Age strategy, published in March 2005 and available online at www.dwp.gov.uk/opportunity_age, sets out a number of programmes to enable older people to play a full and active role in society, including ensuring that they have access to volunteering opportunities locally. Copies have been placed in the Library for the reference of Members.
	While no specific information is collected on the availability of early-retired people to assist the voluntary sector, data from the 2005 Citizenship Survey shows that 30 per cent. of those aged 50 to 64 volunteered for a group, club or organisation at least once a month, making this age group among the most active of all volunteers. Specific advice on volunteering opportunities in retirement for the over 50s is available on the Directgov website at:
	www.directgov.gov.uk/Over50s/RetirementAndPensions/OpportunitiesInRetirement/fs/en

Consultants

John Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister which 10 consultancy fees charged to his Office since May 1997 were the most expensive.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Miliband) today.

Departmental Staff

John Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister how many temporary employees were contracted to work in No. 10 Downing street in 2005-06; and what the total cost of such employees was in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 1997-98.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Miliband) today.

Departmental Studies

John Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister which studies have been commissioned by his Office from  (a) external agencies,  (b) companies,  (c) academics and  (d) individuals in 2006.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Miliband) today.

Procurement Projects

John Hayes: To ask the Prime Minister what the 20 largest procurement projects initiated by his Department since May 1997 were; what the  (a) original budget,  (b) cost to date and  (c) consultancy fees were; and what the final cost was of each project which has been completed.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Miliband) today.

Chinese Executions

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the recent execution of the three religious leaders Mr Xu Shuangfu, Mr Li Maoxing and Mr Wang Jun in China in October; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The Government understands that Xu Shuangfu, Li Maoxing and Wang Jun were executed in China on 22 November 2006 and that their families and lawyers were notified of their execution on 29 November 2006. The Chinese Government have stated that they were executed for criminal activities, not their religious beliefs. The Government do not take a position on the nature of the Three Grades organisation. We are concerned at reports that the defendants were subjected to torture and that the trial did not respect international fair trial standards. We continue to lobby the Chinese Government to limit, and ultimately abolish, its use of the death penalty, to combat torture and to meet international fair trial standards. Most recently, my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor raised the death penalty with the Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on 24 October 2006.

Child Abuse: Historic Claims

David Kidney: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will change the limitation periods on adults making claims relating to abuse they experienced when children.

Harriet Harman: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for North Tyneside (Mr. Byers) on 5 December 2006, Official Report, col. 348W.

Court Service Budget

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the budget is for the court service in each criminal justice area in 2006-07; and what percentage change each figure represents of the budget for 2005-06.

Harriet Harman: HMCS consists of 42 criminal justice areas. The budget data for each area has been placed in both libraries of the House.
	HMCS operates a unified court structure and a unified budget. The budget allocated to each criminal justice area is made up of funding for both criminal and civil courts. The information provided, while broken down by criminal justice area, is the budget for the court service not the budget for criminal justice.

Child Care

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the occupancy rates for places in day nurseries were in each year since 2001.

Beverley Hughes: The number of children per registered full day care setting place was 1.6 in 2001, 1.5 in 2003 and 1.4 in 2005. 2005 is the latest date for which figures are available. The number of children enrolled is greater than the number of places, as part-time children can share a full time place.
	These figures are based on findings from nationally representative surveys of registered Childcare and Early Years Providers, which are commissioned by the Department. The survey began in 1998 and was repeated in 2001, 2002/03 and 2005. Therefore while it is possible to provide occupancy rates for places in full day care settings for 2001, 2002/03 and 2005 it is not possible to provide the relevant data for 2002 and 2003 separately or for 2004.

Child Care

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many Sure Start children's centres there are; and what progress has been made towards the 2008 target of 2,500 centres;
	(2)  how many children's centres were established in 2005-06; how many are forecast to be established in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08; how many children's places were available in 2005-06; and how many are forecast to be available in (i) 2006-07 and 2007-08;
	(3)  what percentage of children's centres have at least one early years professional;
	(4)  what assessment he  (a) has made and  (b) plans to make of the effectiveness of children's centres; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: As of 1 December 2006 there were 1,048 designated Sure Start Children's Centres. We are on track to meet our 2008 target of 2,500 centres and our 2010 target of 3,500 children's centres, one for every community.
	There were 550 Sure Start children's centres established in 2005-06. A further 336 centres were designated between April and November 2006 as local authorities completed the roll out of the first phase of the programme. Local authorities are responsible for planning and managing the delivery of children's centres, and future designation dates are subject to change as they revise their plans. Authorities receive ongoing support and challenge from the Department to ensure their overall targets are met.
	We do not centrally record the number of child care places available in children's centres. Centres in the most disadvantaged areas cannot be designated without integrated early learning and child care for children under the age of five, but local authorities decide how many places can be sustained in a given area. However, we are implementing more sophisticated tracking systems for the second phase of the programme (2006-08) that will provide a clearer picture of services delivered.
	There are currently no Early Years Professionals although some people are currently receiving the training. However, for a children's centre to be designated it must employ a qualified teacher who spends half their working hours at the centre. The qualified teacher's role is to lead the planning, development and delivery of the curriculum and lead on the observation and assessment of young children's progress.
	No assessment to date has been made of the effectiveness of Sure Start Children's Centres which are still in the early stages of roll out and it is too early to assess what impact they are having. However, some children's centres have been developed from earlier Sure Start funded settings such as Sure Start Local Programmes and evaluation of these programmes is under way. Lessons from this research are being used to inform the development of Sure Start Children's Centres including the recently published "Revised Sure Start Children's Centres Practice Guidance" and "Planning and Performance Management Guidance" for local authorities and Sure Start Children's Centres.
	We are giving further consideration to how we can best assess the effectiveness of children's centres in the longer-term.

Early Support Pilot Programme

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Early Support Pilot Programme; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Early Support Programme operates in 45 Pathfinder local authority areas across the country, and in 2006-07 the principles of the programme are being extended to other local authorities across the country. An independent evaluation of the programme in the Pathfinder areas was carried out in 2006 by a team from the University of Manchester and the University of Central Lancashire. The evaluation found that across the Pathfinder areas, the programme has improved the planning and delivery of services to disabled children and their families, particularly through stronger joint working across those agencies involved in providing care and support for these children. It also highlighted the key challenges that many Pathfinder areas still face in successfully integrating services for disabled children around the needs of the child. As with all pathfinder projects, best practice from the programme will form the basis for extending and embedding the principles of Early Support across the country.

Sure Start

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the average salary of Sure Start workers in each of the last four years.

Beverley Hughes: No estimate has been made of the average salary of Sure Start workers in each of the last four years. However, our 2006 survey of early years and childcare providers has, for the first time, identified Sure Start Children's Centres as a separate category of provider. Data about the salary levels of those working in children's centres will therefore be available when the survey findings are published next year.

Communications Spending

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent on press, public relations and communications work by  (a) each (i) health and social services board and (ii) health trust in Northern Ireland and  (b) the Health Estates Agency in (A) 2003-04, (B) 2004-05 and (C) 2005-06; what expenditure is planned by each for such work in 2006-07; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The information is as follows:
	1. The information relating to spending on press, public relations and communications work by each health and social services board and health trust from 2003-04 is detailed in the following tables.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Board  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07( 1) 
			 Eastern 105,000 110,000 116,000 116,000 
			 Northern 89,226 96,424 95,775 110,276 
			 Southern (2)— 103,498 106,000 97,880 
			 Western 29,000 33,000 31,000 23,000 
			 Total 223,226 342,922 232775 347,156 
			 (1 )Estimated  (2 )Not available 
		
	
	
		
			  £ 
			  Trust  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07( 1) 
			 Altnagelvin Hospital 79,853 71,445 63,599 42,968 
			 Armagh and Dungannon 20,672 31,851 23,493 27,484 
			 Belfast City 57,517 105,393 62,966 70,472 
			 Causeway Hospital 96,288 125,080 112,736 102,000 
			 Craigavon and Banbridge Community 45,653 58,323 60,941 61,446 
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Group 38,806 44,683 38,314 68,435 
			 Down Lisburn 128,388 112,977 116,180 119,374 
			 Foyle 12,132 15,310 5,778 6,472 
			 Green Park Healthcare 56,598 53,810 43,587 23,137 
			 Homefirst Community 296,376 236,810 287,064 264,936 
			 Mater Hospital 3,460 3,573 3,688 3,744 
			 Newry and Mourne 0 0 0 0 
			 NT Ambulance Service 17,500 17,500 17,500 17,500 
			 North and West Belfast 101,000 116,000 114,000 117,000 
			 Royal Group 389,964 367,168 388,909 390,000 
			 South and East Belfast 253,837 237,736 226,822 221,151 
			 Sperrin Lakeland 0 0 40,296 90,000 
			 Ulster Community and Hospital 97,820 119,720 123,665 124,020 
			 United Hospitals 92,906 94,119 96,949 87,227 
			 Total 1,788,770 1,811,498 1,826,487 1,837,366 
			 (1 )Estimated 
		
	
	2. The requested expenditure for the Health Estates Agency is not available, as it is included in the overall figures for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Information about DHSSPS expenditure was provided in the reply to PQ06-4475.

Flu Vaccinations: Pensioners

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of those pensioners eligible in each health trust area in Northern Ireland had received an influenza vaccination as of 30 November; and what steps he is taking to increase the vaccination of eligible pensioners.

Paul Goggins: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Since the commencement of the 2006-07 influenza vaccination programme at the start of October, nearly half of those aged over 65 years had been vaccinated by 31 October. The following table gives details for each health board area.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Health board  Uptake rate of 65+ population receiving influenza vaccine 
			 EHSSB 38.9 
			 NHSSB 56.1 
			 SHSSB 57.3 
			 WHSSB 57.0 
			 NI 49.2 
			 1. Percentages collated by Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre for NI provided from data collected from GP practices.  2. At the time of collating the above figures, 9 per cent. of all practices are still to forward their data returns, therefore the actual uptake is higher than these figures suggest.  3. The uptake rate for 30 November will be available mid-December 
		
	
	The influenza vaccination programme in Northern Ireland is well established and now in its sixth year. The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Health liaised with voluntary and community organisations for older people to raise awareness of the launch of the campaign, and this year the launch coincided with Age Awareness Week. Those eligible for immunisation receive a personal invite from their GP along with a detailed information leaflet. In addition, many HSS Trusts, GPs and community pharmacists take action to increase uptake at a local level.

Pensioner Poverty

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of the pensioner population in Northern Ireland has been lifted out of poverty in each of the last five years; and what steps he is taking to increase this figures.

David Hanson: Data on pensioner poverty are available only for the years 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05. Between the first and second years the proportion of the pensioner population in poverty increased by an estimated 2.8 per cent.; this equates to approximately 8,000 pensioners. On the same measure between 2003-04 and 2004-05 there was no change.
	"Lifetime Opportunities" Governments Anti-Poverty and Social Inclusion Strategy, launched on 13 November includes a commitment to work towards the elimination of poverty and social exclusion in Northern Ireland by 2020.
	A copy of "Lifetime Opportunities" has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Stormont Parliament: Security

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how long it took for the police to arrive at the entrance of the Great Hall, Stormont Parliament building following the security alert on 24 November; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The security alert at Parliament Buildings on 24 November 2006 began at 10.55 am. Security staff in Parliament Buildings made an emergency call at 11.11 am to the PSNI Operational System requesting assistance.
	The PSNI arrived at Parliament Buildings at 11.16 am, five minutes after the emergency call was placed.
	I pay tribute to the response of all staff at the Parliament Buildings following the alert.

Aid for Trade

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's policy on 'Aid for Trade'.

Gareth Thomas: Aid for Trade aims to enable people in developing countries to trade their way out of poverty. It can be extremely effective. For example, DFID is providing £3 million to Lesotho for tax reforms that have already resulted in a 204 per cent. increase in revenue collection. UK policy is to work for substantial, monitorable increases in global Aid for Trade. In December 2005 donors committed to increasing spending to $4 billion by 2010, and agreed recommendations on how to do so effectively at the World Trade Organisation in October 2006. We will continue to work for full implementation of these commitments.

Conventional Weapons Conference

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the outcome was of the review conference on the convention on certain conventional weapons; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: Review conference discussions were dominated by Cluster Munitions and Anti-vehicle Mines. Prior to the conference the Government announced plans to withdraw 'dumb' cluster munitions from service by the middle of the next decade and called on others to do likewise. We succeeded in getting agreement to urgent expert discussions on the humanitarian impact of these weapons—an essential step toward negotiating a legally binding instrument on their use. No such agreement was possible on Anti-vehicle Mines. The UK therefore announced that it will, over time, introduce measures to reduce the humanitarian impact of these mines.

Foreign Aid

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the Government expenditure was on  (a) international development and  (b) combating AIDS in developing countries in (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 2005-06; and what the percentage change was in real terms in each figure over that period.

Gareth Thomas: Total UK Gross Public Expenditure on Development was £6,612 million in 2005-06 compared to £2,415 million in 1996-97. This represents a rise of 121 per cent. in real terms. The methodology for calculating AIDS expenditure is currently under review and expenditure figures will be announced shortly.

Identity and Passport Service

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much the Identity and Passport Service spent on food and alcohol for its staff working out of office in each of the last two years for which figures are available.

Joan Ryan: The Identity and Passport Service provides subsistence to its staff who are required to work out of their normal base in line with Home Office travel and subsistence rules, in addition working lunches are provided in certain circumstances. The total amounts the Agency has spent in the last two years are as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2004-05 252,707 
			 2005-06 296,282

Policing

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government expenditure on policing was in  (a) England and Wales,  (b) the North West,  (c) Greater Manchester and  (d) Manchester, Gorton constituency in (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 2005-06; and what the percentage change was in real terms for each figure over that period.

John Reid: The Government allocates funding to police authorities. The allocation of resources to Manchester Gorton is a matter for the chief constable and Greater Manchester police authority.
	The information requested that is available is set out in the table.
	
		
			  Total Government grants 1996-97 and 2005-06 
			   1996-97  2005-06( 1) (£ million)  Real change (percentage) 
			 England and Wales(2, 3) 6135 10065 32.1 
			 North-West Region(4) 807 1096 9.3 
			 Greater Manchester 316 447 13.9 
			 (1 )2005-06 figures are adjusted amended following the 2003-04 Amending Report. (2) Figures for England and Wales include Police Home Office grant, RSG/NNDR, Specific grants, capital grant and support and central spending. In 2005-06 this expanded to include Counter Terrorism, International and organised crime funding. (3) Excluded RSG/NNDR for the City of London that is provided to the corporation in respect of all its services. (4) North-west Region includes Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside.

Prisons

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the reasons for the overspend in HMP Wymott's budget.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Wymott is currently forecasting an overspend of £660,000. This is largely comprised of increased utility costs for gas and electricity, a centrally negotiated equal pay settlement, and an excessive number of bedwatches due to prisoners' illnesses. The Prison Service is aware of this overspend and no investigation is warranted.

Probation Service

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are supervised by the National Probation Service; and how many offenders have been allocated to each tier under the National Offender Management model.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 5 December 2006
	At the end of December 2005, probation areas reported 224,094 people under their supervision. The number of offenders supervised in the community (i.e. excluding those still in custody) was 162,005. The number of these offenders allocated to each tier under the National Offender Management model is shown in the table. In December 2005, the 'tiering' concept was only being applied to those supervised in the community.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system, and although shown to the last individual the figure may not be accurate to that level.
	
		
			  Persons supervised by the Probation Service at 31 December 2005—by supervision tier 
			  Tier  Number 
			 1 47,011 
			 2 23,824 
			 3 36,455 
			 4 43,474 
			 Not stated 11,241 
			 Total 162,005 
			  Note: Quality: care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, but the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system, and so although shown to the last individual, the figures may not be accurate to that level.  Source: These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems.

Recidivism Rates

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the rates of recidivism are for each  (a) prison,  (b) young offenders' institution and  (c) organisation contracted to manage community sentences in England and Wales.

Gerry Sutcliffe: For the most recent information on re-offending rates for adults and juveniles by disposal please see Table five of "Re-offending of adults: evidence from the 2003 cohort" at this link
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/hosb2006.pdf
	and Table A5 of "Re-offending of juveniles: evidence from the 2004 cohort" available at this link:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/hosb1006.pdf
	Validated information on re-offending is not available at the level of the individual establishment or probation area.

Road Safety

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 27 November 2006,  Official Report, column 409W, on road safety, on what date work commenced on the detailed specification; when it is due to be completed; what international research he refers to; and in what ways they are unsuitable for road-side drug-testing.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 4 December 2006
	 : It was changes to the law introduced by the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 which encouraged a particular focus on the possibility of a device that could derive a reliable indication whether a person had a drug in his body from a sample of sweat or saliva. Work to develop a specification for such a device has been part of this focus, but it is not possible to give a precise date for when it began. Consideration of how best to test for the presence of drugs in a driver had been under way for some time before that at both the Home Office Scientific Development Branch and the Forensic Science Service and broader work continues alongside the development of a specification.
	The development has involved outside academic experts and consultation with industry and other interested parties. The most recent consultation took place in summer this year. A specification will issue as soon as the results of this consultation and any further consultation that might be necessary has been fully taken into account. No specific date has been set for the completion of the work, as this will depend on the outcome of the consultation. There would be no value in a specification that did not meet all the appropriate requirements.
	The work has also had regard to relevant research, particularly the joint European/USA ROSITA-II study. The findings are available at www.rosita.org. A wide range of problems was found with the different devices tested, both in their accuracy and sensitivity and in their operational use. The specific conclusion was that
	"no device was considered to be reliable enough in order to be recommended for the roadside screening of drivers".

Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place between the UK and each EU country for providing  (a) criminal conviction information and  (b) provision of non-conviction and soft intelligence information pertaining to overseas nationals who work in regulated positions under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ryan: The following arrangements are in place between the UK and each EU member state:
	An EU Council Decision (CD) on the exchange of information extracted from the criminal record (2005/876/JHA) was adopted on 21 November 2005. This CD allows member states to exchange information as follows:
	'Own Initiative notifications'—Where a national of another member state is convicted, the convicting member state must inform the member state of nationality without delay of that conviction.
	'Requests for information'—Requests may be made for information held on the criminal record of another member state in the following circumstances;
	(a) For use in criminal proceedings
	(b) From a judicial authority outside the context of criminal proceedings
	(c) A request made by the person concerned
	Responses must be made within 10 working days (extensions are allowed where information is required to clarify the identification of the person concerned).
	Requests, responses and the use of data given in response can only be made in accordance with national laws of the states concerned.
	The UK Central Authority required to carry out these functions was established in May 2006. A Framework Decision (FD) is currently under negotiation which also aims to introduce a common format and an electronic mechanism to facilitate the exchange of information.
	The CD allows the UK to make requests for information for employment vetting. The CRB are undertaking a feasibility study into how many other member states are willing and/or able to share data with the UK for that purpose. The CRB are writing to other member states to establish this information.
	The CD and FD deal only with criminal conviction information. There are no plans at present to exchange non-conviction information between EU member states. It is prudent to establish the principal of exchanging conviction data with other member states before exploring the issue of exchanging non-conviction and 'soft' intelligence, and while bilateral discussions with other countries are at an early stage there are some positive indications on which we hope to build.
	Under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, criminal records information obtained by the CRB will be passed to the new Independent Barring Board in cases where a discretionary decision is required. It may also be possible for the board to request information from other EU member states in accordance with the CD and FD.

Young Offenders

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juvenile offenders from each local authority area in Wales are held in secure accommodation in  (a) Oswald Unit at Cassington,  (b) Rainsbrook,  (c) Red Bank Community House,  (d) Stoke Heath,  (e) Thorn Cross,  (f) Vinney Green,  (g) Werrington,  (h) Wetherby,  (i) Hillside and  (j) Parc; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The following tables give the data requested as at 24 November 2006. The figures were provided by the Youth Justice Board.
	
		
			  Young people from Wales held in secure establishments/young offender institutions broken down by youth offending team and establishment name 
			   Bridgend  Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent  Cardiff  Carmarthenshire  Ceregdigion  Conwy and Denbighshire 
			 Oswald Unit (Castington) — — — — — — 
			 Rainsbrook 1 — 1 — — — 
			 Red Bank — — — — — 1 
			 Stoke Heath 1 — — — — 8 
			 Thorn Cross — — — — — 1 
			 Vinney Green — 1 — — — — 
			 Werrington — — — — — 2 
			 Wetherby — — — — — — 
			 Hillside 1 2 — — — — 
			 Parc 4 3 2 — — — 
		
	
	
		
			   Flintshire  Gwynedd and Ynys Mon  Merthyr Tydfil  Monmouthshire and Torfaen  Neath Port Talbot  Newport 
			 Oswald Unit (Castington) 1 — — — — — 
			 Rainsbrook 2 — — — — 1 
			 Red Bank 1 — — — — — 
			 Stoke Heath 3 2 — — — — 
			 Thorn Cross — 1 1 — — — 
			 Vinney Green — — — — — — 
			 Werrington 1 — — — — — 
			 Wetherby — 1 — — — — 
			 Hillside — — — 1 — 3 
			 Parc — — 1 — 2 2 
		
	
	
		
			   Pembrokeshire  Powys  Rhondda Cynon Taff  Swansea  Vale of Glamorgan  Wrexham 
			 Oswald Unit (Castington) — — — — — — 
			 Rainsbrook — — — — — 2 
			 Red Bank — — — — — — 
			 Stoke Heath 2 — — — — 1 
			 Thorn Cross — — — — — — 
			 Vinney Green — — — — — — 
			 Werrington 1 — — — — 2 
			 Wetherby — — — — — — 
			 Hillside — — — 1 1 — 
			 Parc 1 — 2 3 — —

Young Offenders

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what secure accommodation  (a) young adults and  (b) juvenile offenders attached to Welsh youth offending teams are held; in what secure accommodation such offenders were held in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The following tables show, by custodial establishment, how many young people from Wales were held in the secure estate for children and young people on 24 November in each year from 2000 onwards. Only those over-18s who were serving a juvenile sentence—such as a detention and training order—are held in included. Those over 18 who are sentenced as young adults are held in the young adult estate and are the responsibility of a Probation Board rather than a Youth Offending Team.
	
		
			  Young people from Wales by establishment at 24 November 2000 
			   Number 
			 Ashfield 80 
			 Brinsford 10 
			 Eastwood Park 1 
			 Hassockfield STC 2 
			 Hillside 9 
			 Lancastar Farms 1 
			 Medway 1 
			 Parc 1 
			 Rainsbrook 4 
			 Red Bank Community Home 1 
			 Redsands Secure Unit 1 
			 Stoke Heath 14 
			 Thorn Cross 2 
			 Vinney Green 1 
			 Werrington 1 
			 Aylasbury 1 
			 Briars Hey 1 
			 Portland 14 
			 Styal 1 
		
	
	
		
			  Young People from Wales by establishment at 24 November 2001 
			   Number 
			 Ashfield 101 
			 Aycliffe Young People's Centre 1 
			 Barton Moss Secure Unit 1 
			 Brinsford 2 
			 Eastwood Park 1 
			 Hillside 8 
			 Hunterscombe 2 
			 Kyloe House 1 
			 Lancaster Farms 2 
			 New Hall 4 
			 Rainsbrook 5 
			 Redlands Secure Unit 2 
			 Stoke Heath 20 
			 Swanwick Lodge 1 
			 Thorn Cross 1 
			 Vinney Green 2 
			 Warren Hill 2 
			 Werrington 1 
			 Portland 8 
			 Stamford House 1 
			 Stoke House 2 
			 Thornbury House 1 
		
	
	
		
			  Young people from Wales by establishment at 24 November 2002 
			   Number 
			 Ashfield 84 
			 Atkinson Unit 4 
			 Barton Moss Secure Unit 3 
			 Brinsford 10 
			 Castington 1 
			 Clare Lodge 1 
			 Clayfields House 1 
			 Eastwood Park 2 
			 Feltham 1 
			 Hillside 14 
			 Hindley 2 
			 Huntercombe 9 
			 Parc 10 
			 Rainsbrook 5 
			 Red Bank Community Home 3 
			 St. John's Centre (Tiffield) 1 
			 Stoke Heath 23 
			 Vinney Green 3 
			 Warren Hill 3 
			 Werrington 1 
			 Wetherby 2 
			 Onley 1 
		
	
	
		
			  Young people from Wales by establishment at 24 November 2003 
			   Number 
			 Ashfield 78 
			 Atkinson Unit 3 
			 Aycliffe Young People's Centre 1 
			 Barton Moss Secure Unit 2 
			 Brinsford 9 
			 Castington 1 
			 East Moor 1 
			 Eastwood Park 2 
			 Hillside 14 
			 Hindley 1 
			 Huntercombe 12 
			 Market Street 1 
			 Orchard Lodge 1 
			 Parc 11 
			 Rainsbrook 6 
			 Red Bank Community Home 2 
			 Stoke Heath 27 
			 Sutton Place 1 
			 Swanwick Lodge 1 
			 Thorn Cross 2 
			 Vinney Green 5 
			 Warren Hill 1 
			 Werrington 2 
			 Briars Hey 2 
			 Onley 1 
			 Stamford House 1 
		
	
	
		
			  Young people from Wales by establishment at 24 November 2004 
			   Number 
			 Ashfield 78 
			 Atkinson Unit 4 
			 Barton Moss Secure Unit 5 
			 Brinsford 6 
			 Carlford Unit (Warren Hill) 1 
			 Castington 1 
			 Dyson Hall 1 
			 Eastwood Park 5 
			 Hillside 13 
			 Hindley 1 
			 Huntercombe 5 
			 New Hall 2 
			 Oakhill STC 1 
			 Parc 19 
			 Rainsbrook 1 
			 Red Bank Community Home 1 
			 St. John's Centre (Tiffield) 1 
			 Stoke Heath 19 
			 Thorn Cross 2 
			 Vinney Green 4 
			 Werrington 3 
			 Wetherby 2 
			 Bullwood Hall 1 
		
	
	
		
			  Young people from Wales by establishment at 24 November 2005 
			   Number 
			 Ashfield 64 
			 Atkinson Unit 1 
			 Dyson Hall 1 
			 Eastwood Park 1 
			 Feltham 1 
			 Hassockfield STC 1 
			 Hillside 6 
			 Hindley 1 
			 New Hall 2 
			 Parc 29 
			 Rainsbrook 5 
			 Red Bank Community Home 1 
			 Stoke Heath 20 
			 Vinney Green 1 
			 Warren Hill 1 
			 Werrington 4 
			 Wetherby 3 
		
	
	
		
			  Young people from Wales by establishment at 24 November 2006 
			   Number 
			 Ashfield 82 
			 Barton Moss Secure Unit 1 
			 Brinsford 5 
			 Carlford Unit (Warren Hill) 1 
			 Dyson Hall 1 
			 Eastwood Park 3 
			 Feltham 2 
			 Hassockfield STC 2 
			 Hillside 9 
			 Hindley 5 
			 Hunterscombe 1 
			 Lancaster Farms 3 
			 Medway 1 
			 New Hall 1 
			 Oakhill STC 3 
			 Oswald Unit (Castington) 1 
			 Parc 20 
			 Rainsbrook 6 
			 Rainsbrook Mother and Baby Unit 1 
			 Red Bank Community Home 2 
			 Stoke Heath 17 
			 Thorn Cross 3 
			 Vinney Green 1 
			 Werrington 6 
			 Wetherby 1

Duchy Council

Ben Chapman: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the professional background was of each member of the Duchy Council appointed in each of the last three years.

Edward Miliband: In the last three years Her Majesty the Queen has made four new appointments for the Duchy of Lancaster Council. The are shown in the table.
	
		
			  January 2005  
			 Ms Anne Richards Chief Investment Officer—Aberdeen Asset Management—experience in financial asset management. 
			 Mr Hugh Seaborn Chief Executive—The Portman Estate—Chartered Surveyor with experience in commercial property investment. 
			  1 June 2006  
			 Mr Mark Hudson Chairman of Game Conservatory Trust, Ex National President of CLA (2005) and private farmer in Wales—experience in farming and the rural economy. 
			  1 September 2006  
			 Mr Robert Hildyard Q.C. Attorney General to the Duchy of Lancaster. 
		
	
	During the period Sir Michael Bunbury, Sir Christopher Howes, and The hon. Mr Justice Briggs retired as members of the Duchy Council.

Crisis Loans

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the processing time for crisis loan applications was in each region in each of the last 12 quarters for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what the processing time for Crisis Loan applications was in each region in each of the last 12 quarters for which figures are available. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The time it takes to process Crisis Loan applications is measured by counting the average length of time taken to clear all claims processed within a set time period. The measure is referred to as the Average Actual Clearance Time.
	The expected service level for Crisis Loans in 2006/07 is two days, although applications for living expenses should be cleared, whenever possible, on the same day as the application is made.
	The information in the table covers the last ten quarters. Data prior to quarter 2 in 2004 was not collated by Government Office Region.
	
		
			  Regional quarterly crisis loan average actual clearance times in days 
			   2004  2005  2006 
			   Quarter 2  Quarter 3  Quarter 4  Quarter 1  Quarter 2  Quarter 3  Quarter 4  Quarter 1  Quarter 2  Quarter 3 
			 East Midlands 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.6 1.3 1.3 
			 East of England 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.4 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.5 
			 London 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.3 
			 North East 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.3 
			 North West 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 
			 Scotland 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 
			 South East 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.7 1.4 1.7 1.9 2.0 
			 South West 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.4 
			 Wales 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.7 2.0 1.4 
			 West Midlands 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.2 1.7 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.4 
			 National 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.3 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.4 
		
	
	I hope this is helpful.

Housing Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of cutting the withdrawal rate of housing benefit from 65 per cent. to  (a) 60,  (b) 55,  (c) 50,  (d) 45 and  (e) 40 per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the table.
	
		
			  Estimated cost of cutting the withdrawal rate of housing benefit 
			  Changing the housing benefit withdrawal rate from 65 per cent. to:  Estimated annual cost in annually managed expenditure (£ million) 
			 60 per cent. 100 
			 55 per cent. 220 
			 50 per cent. 360 
			 45 per cent. 530 
			 40 per cent. 740 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10 million or 10,000 beneficiaries and are for Great Britain. 2. The impact is estimated using the Department's Policy Simulation Model for 2006-07, using data from the 2004-05 Family Resources Survey up-rated to 2006-07 prices, benefit rates and earnings levels, and is calibrated to latest published forecasts and policies. 3. Results are subject to sampling and reporting errors and estimation assumptions, and are therefore indicative only. No behavioural changes are assumed.

Housing Benefit Fraud

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the value of housing benefit fraud in England in each year.

James Plaskitt: The level of housing benefit fraud and error in Great Britain has been continuously measured since 2002-03. The latest estimates are for the year from October 2004 to September 2005. The percentage of expenditure overpaid due to fraud is estimated to have dropped by 38 per cent. since 2002-03. Estimates of both the percentage and amount of housing benefit expenditure overpaid due to fraud in England are presented in the following table. When comparing levels of fraud in different years it is more appropriate to look at percentages, as the amount overpaid is also affected by changes in rents and caseload.
	
		
			  The level of fraud in housing benefit in England since April 2002 
			  Period  Estimated percentage overpaid  Estimated amount overpaid (£ million) 
			 April 2002—March 2003 1.8 160 
			 April 2003—March 2004 1.1 100 
			 April 2004—March 2005 1.1 110 
			 October 2004—September 2005 1.0 100 
			  Notes: 1. These estimates are based on a sample of housing benefit cases, so are subject to a large degree of uncertainty. 2. Around 15 per cent. of housing benefit cases lie outside the scope of this sample, so the estimates do not cover the whole of HB expenditure. 3. Further information on housing benefit fraud and error is available from National Statistics reports at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd2/fraud_hb/fraud_hb.asp

Industrial Injuries Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claiming industrial injuries benefit were  (a) in work,  (b) out of work and of working age and  (c) retired in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: The available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Cases where industrial injuries disablement benefit/reduced earning allowance was in payment at March 2006 
			   Number 
			 Working age 180,680 
			 Over state pension age 157,145 
			 Total 337,825 
			  Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest five. 2. Table shows all cases; industrial injuries disablement benefit and reduced earnings allowance. 3. State pension age has been defined as females 60 and over and males 65 and over. 4. It is not possible to distinguish between people in work and out of work.  Source: Information Directorate, Industrial Injuries Computer System, 100 per cent. data.

Jobcentre Plus

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets are set for Jobcentre Plus contact centre telephone operators.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what targets are set for Jobcentre Plus Contact Centre telephone operators. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Jobcentre Plus Contact Centre operators' individual performance is measured against a set of internal benchmarks. These benchmarks contribute to internal Contact Centre Key Performance Indicators, which support Jobcentre Plus Key Management Indicators and Jobcentre Plus Targets, and are kept under close review.
	The enclosed table details the benchmarks that operators are currently being measured against for each of the services delivered by our contact centres.
	I hope this is helpful.
	
		
			  Jobcentre Plus contact centre operators internal benchmarks 
			  Service  Benchmark 
			  First Contact and Jobseeker Direct  
			 First contact services, whereby customers call to make a new claim to working age benefits. First Contact average call handling time (length of phone call with customer)—12 minutes (BT sites); eight minutes (EDS sites). (The service offered to customers is identical but the technology accounts for time differently. This will be resolved in 2007.) 
			 Jobseeker Direct-provides support and information to customers on applying for vacancies advertised with Jobcentre Plus Jobseeker Direct average call handling time—four minutes. 
			  90 per cent. accuracy (average over the course of a year) against the Call Assessment Framework. 
			   
			  Employer Direct  
			 Employers provide information to operators in order to advertise their vacancies with Jobcentre Plus To achieve an average call handling time of eight minutes and 30 seconds. 
			 (In some of our Employer Direct sites staff handle Jobseeker Direct calls as well as Employer Direct) Employer Direct—to spend an average of 70 per cent. of the time on the call with 30 per cent. for wrap up time. Wrap up time allows agents to deal with the admin work associated to the service they are delivering. 
			  Overseas Vacancy Team—to spend an average of 75 per cent. of the time on the call with 25 per cent. as wrap up time. 
			  Jobseeker Direct—to achieve an average call handling time of four minutes. 
			  Jobseeker Direct—to ensure an average quality score of 97 per cent. is achieved for inbound and outbound telephone contact. 
			  To ensure that vacancies input to Labour Market System meet the minimum average National Quality Benchmarks of 95 per cent. accuracy. 
			  To ensure that inbound and outbound telephone contact meets the standards required as measured through the appropriate Call Assessment Framework. 
			   
			  National Insurance Allocation (appointment booking and admin only)  
			  To achieve an average call handling time of 13 minutes 30 seconds for the first three months and 12 minutes 30 seconds after a three month consolidation period. 
			  To achieve an average of 70 per cent. of the time on the call with 30 per cent. for wrap up time. 
			  To ensure that inbound and outbound telephone contact meets the standards required as measured through the appropriate Call Assessment Framework. 
			  95 per cent. accuracy is achieved on completed documentation and Labour Market System client records. 
			  To achieve 95 per cent. accuracy during Call Assessments. 
			  Quality data standards of form DCI1B (form to be completed when NINO is required and agents are to make sure that the correct information is held) to achieve 95 per cent. accuracy. 
			  Benefit inspired applications—NINO appointment booked on same day as receipt. 
			  80 per cent. of calls answered within 20 seconds. 
			  Abandonment rate of less than 5 per cent. 
			  National Benefit Fraud Hotline  
			  90 per cent. of calls answered within three seconds. 
			  Nine minutes average call handling time. 
			  87 per cent. talk time. 
			  3 per cent. wrap up time. 
			  Abandoned calls/nuisance calls no higher than 20 per cent. 
			  95 per cent. quality success rate. 
			  70 per cent. of referrals to be passed through to fraud sectors. 
			  48 hour turnaround from taking call to passing referrals through to appropriate fraud sector. 
			  95 per cent. successful Departmental Central Index trace.

Jobcentre Plus

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which Jobcentre Plus offices were closed in each of the last four years, indicating in each case whether prior to closure the office was open full-time or part-time.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Leslie Strathie:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking which Jobcentre Plus Offices were closed in each of the last four years, and in each case whether prior to closure the office was open full-time or part-time. This is something, which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	I enclose a list of the offices that were closed and have indicated in each case whether the office was open full-time or part-time prior to closure. I have placed a copy in the House of Commons Library.
	Firstly, as part of the rollout of the new Jobcentre Plus network we have rationalised our estate. We inherited around 1500 offices from the former Employment Service and Benefits Agency, several of which were unsuitable for the new processes, or were in the wrong place or in a poor state of repair. Often, the former agencies had offices situated at either end of the High Street and, in some instances, neither was suitable for conversion to Jobcentre Plus so we closed one or both of them. In each District we undertook detailed service delivery planning exercises in consultation with local stakeholders, identifying the sites which we would convert to the new standard and those, which needed to close. We also explained how, particularly in more rural locations, we would offer outreach services ("flexible service delivery").
	Secondly, as a result of our programme to centralise benefit processing we have identified sites which will no longer be viable once processing work has been taken away from them.
	Thirdly, we have been looking very closely at the need for public-facing sites in a number of locations. The increased availability of new channels means that Jobcentre Plus customers can access services directly by telephone or Internet rather than needing to call into one of our offices. Reducing expenditure on our office network is part of our wider strategy for focusing resources more effectively on frontline advisory services to help our customers move into work.
	The list of closures should also be set against the 837 offices that we have rolled out to date under our restructuring programme, plus over 150 locations where we have installed flexible service delivery arrangements.
	I would emphasise that the closure of any of our offices involves consultation with local stakeholders, including MPs, and putting in place suitable alternative arrangements for delivering services to our customers.
	I hope this is helpful.

Office for Disability Issues

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which Ministers from  (a) the Department of Health,  (b) the Department for Education and Skills,  (c) the Department for Trade and Industry,  (d) the Department for Transport,  (e) the Department for Communities and Local Government and  (f) the Department for Work and Pensions sit on the ministerial group that oversees the work of the Office for Disability Issues.

Anne McGuire: The named Departments are represented by the following Ministers:
	 (a) Department for Health—Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Care Services);
	 (b) Department for Education and Skills—Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State;
	 (c) Department for Trade and Industry—has no representative at ministerial level but officials will be involved in discussions as and when necessary;
	 (d) Department for Transport—Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State;
	 (e) Department for Communities and Local Government—Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Women and Equality);
	Department for Communities and Local Government—Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State; and
	 (f) Department for Work and Pensions—Minister for Disabled People; who is also the chairperson of the group.

Blind People: Wirral

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of blind people living in  (a) Wirral and  (b) Wirral South.

Ivan Lewis: The number of people registered as severely sight impaired (blind) in Wirral council with social service responsibilities was 1,270 at 31 March 2006.
	Data at constituency level is not centrally available.

Cancelled Operations: Hertfordshire

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in  (a) North East Hertfordshire and  (b) West Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust areas have had operations cancelled at short notice in the last 12 months.

Andy Burnham: The Department does not collect the number of operations cancelled at short notice. The Department collects the number of operations cancelled at the last minute for non-clinical reasons. A 'last minute cancellation' is a cancellation on the day patients were due to arrive, after the patient has arrived in hospital or on the day of their operation. Data is available on a NHS Trust rather than PCT basis.
	
		
			  Cancelled operations for non clinical reasons, NHS organisations in England, Q3 2005-06 to Q2 2006-07 
			  Organisation  Number of last minute cancellations for non clinical reasons 
			 East and North Hertfordshire NHS trust 968 
			 West Hertfordshire hospitals NHS trust 805 
			  Source:  Department of Health, QMCO

Cholesterol

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect of the Quality and Outcome framework on cholesterol level since its introduction.

Rosie Winterton: The quality and outcome framework (QOF) measures achievement against a scorecard of 146 indicators, with 76 indicators in the clinical domain. It includes three quality indicators for control of cholesterol in patients with coronary disease, stroke and diabetes. The following tables show the percentage of available points achieved against these indicators across England demonstrating that general practice practices are making good progress of improving control of cholesterol in patients with cardiovascular disease.
	The applicable QOF indicators and the overall percentages are in the following tables.
	
		
			  CHD 8—Percentage of patients with coronary heart disease whose last measured total cholesterol (measured in the last 15 months) is 5mmol/l or less 
			  QOF Year  Overall percentage CHD 8 for England 
			 2004-05 72 
			 2005-06 78 
		
	
	
		
			  Stroke 8—Percentage of patients with TIA or stroke whose last measured total cholesterol (measured in the last 15 months) is 5mmol/1 or less 
			  QOF Year  Overall percentage stroke 8 for England 
			 2004-05 63 
			 2005-06 72 
		
	
	
		
			  DM 17—Percentage of patients with diabetes whose last measured total cholesterol within previous 15 months is 5mmol/1 or less 
			  QOF Year  Overall percentage DM17 for England 
			 2004-05 72 
			 2005-06 79 
			  Notes: Some patients may be excluded from the indicator because of exceptions and exclusions. Only patients registered with a general practice participating in QOF will be included.

Choose and Book

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) hospital trusts and  (b) independent sector treatment centres are using the choose and book system; and how many are mental health trusts, broken down by region.

Ivan Lewis: The table shows how many of each type of organisation have used choose and book up to 19 November 2006, by strategic health authority.
	
		
			  Organisations using choose and book system as at 19 November 2006 
			  Strategic health authority  Foundation trusts  Foundation mental health trusts  NHS trusts  NHS mental health trusts  Independent sector treatment centres  Other independent sector providers  Care trusts  Primary care trusts  Total 
			 East Midlands 2 — 7 3 3 2 — 21 36 
			 East of England -6 1 11 1 — 1 1 9 23 
			 London 7 — 26 2 — — — 12 40 
			 North East 5 — 3  1 3 — 5 12 
			 North West 7 — 20 4 1 4 — 24 53 
			 South Central 1 — 10  4 — — 13 27 
			 South East Coast 2 — 11  1 6 — 9 27 
			 South West 6 — 12 2 2 3 1 21 41 
			 West Midlands 2 — 18 2 2 3  21 46 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 8 — 7 1 2 3 — 16 29 
			  46 1 125 15 16 25 2 151 381

Clinical Training

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to co-ordinate clinical training supervised by strategic health authorities to ensure consistency of  (a) quantity and  (b) quality of training.

Rosie Winterton: Each strategic health authority (SHA) has a work force lead and a postgraduate deanery as well as a senior officer responsible for commissioning. These functions work together at a SHA level and also meet at a national level. A work force review team based in the national health service and funded by the Department informs their work. A work force programme group allows work force leads to discuss important matters with senior officials in my Department. Departmental officials also work closely with postgraduate deans and commissioning leads.
	SHAs decide on the quantity of training available and this is approved and quality assured by the appropriate regulatory or professional body. For example, the postgraduate medical education and training board holds regular discussions with postgraduate deans to ensure that its standards are met.

Dentistry

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) adults and  (b) children are registered with NHS general dental practices in York; and how many were registered at York practices in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is as follows.
	 Old contract
	
		
			  General dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS). Selby and York primary care trust (PCT), patient registrations, adults and children as at 31 March 1997 to 2006 
			   Adults  Children 
			 1997 106,119 39,220 
			 1998 109,152 41,916 
			 1999 103,319 42,260 
			 2000 104,489 42,040 
			 2001 107,829 42,276 
			 2002 110,148 41,783 
			 2003 113,355 41,966 
			 2004 117,127 43,230 
			 2005 111,872 42,641 
			 2006 109,539 42,932 
			  Notes: 1. PDS schemes had varying registration periods. To ensure comparability with corresponding GDS data, PDS registrations are estimated using "proxy registrations", namely the number of patients seen by PDS practices in the previous 15 months. PDS proxy registrations were not estimated for periods before September 2003—actual registrations were used before this date. 2. Data for 2003 and earlier do not include those PDS schemes that do not have any registrations (e.g. dental access centres), and is therefore not directly comparable with later data. 3. Selby and York PCT covers the York area.  4. The boundaries used are as at 31 March 2006. 
		
	
	With the introduction of the new contract on 1 April 2006 a new measure was introduced, "patients seen within the last 24 months".
	This measure has been used for the first time as a count of the number of distinct patient identities which have been processed during the last 24 months. Each identified patient is counted only once even if he or she has received several episodes of care or treatment over the measured period.
	This measure is not directly comparable with the patient registrations data collected under the old contract as it was measured over a 15-month period rather than 24 months.
	Patients have been identified by using surname, first initial, gender and date of birth. Each unique patient ID is normally assigned to the dental contract (and therefore PCT) against which the most recent claim for routine treatment was recorded in the 24-month period.
	 New contract
	
		
			  Patient seen in the last 24 months in York and Selby PCT 
			   Number 
			 March 2006 161,155 
			 June 2006 158,916 
			 September 2006 157,484 
			  Notes: 1. The boundaries used are as at 30 September 2006. 2. Currently the Patients seen data is not available at adult child split. 3. Selby and York PCT covers the York area.  Sources: The Information Centre for health and social care NHS Business Services Authority (BSA)

Dentistry

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost was of a visit to a dentist's surgery in  (a) 1997,  (b) 2001 and  (c) 2005.

Rosie Winterton: Information is available by course of treatment. Information on the average cost of a national health service (NHS) course of treatment for an adult charge payer is set out as follows. Treatment is free for all children and those adults who are exempt from NHS dental charges on income or other grounds.
	
		
			  General Dental Services (GDS): average cost of an adult course of treatment (CoT) in England as at year ending 31 March each year 
			  £ 
			   Average cost 
			 1997 33.58 
			 2001 35.45 
			 2005 38.55 
			  Sources: 1. The Information Centre for health and social care 2. National Health Service (NHS) Business Services Authority (BSA)  Note: The average cost of a GDS adult course of treatment for the year ending 31 March each year has been calculated by dividing the total adult gross fees for April to March for each year by the total number of adult courses of treatment for the same time period.

Dentistry

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists there are per head of population in each primary care trust area in the East Midlands.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Dentists (performers) on open NHS contracts per 100,000 population in England and East Midlands strategic health authority (SHA) by primary care trust (PCT) as at 30 September 2006 
			   Dentists (performers) per 100,000 population 
			 England 40.2 
			 East Midlands SHA 36.6 
			 Daventry and South Northamptonshire PCT 29.1 
			 Central Derby PCT 84.1 
			 Mansfield District PCT 53.7 
			 Newark and Sherwood PCT 46.3 
			 West Lincolnshire PCT 33.2 
			 Lincolnshire South West Teaching PCT 35.8 
			 Chesterfield PCT 64.2 
			 Gedling PCT 30.6 
			 Amber Valley PCT 38.1 
			 North Eastern Derbyshire PCT 28.1 
			 Melton, Rutland and Harborough PCT 43.3 
			 Leicester City West PCT 51.7 
			 Nottingham City PCT 59.6 
			 Erewash PCT 75.5 
			 Bassetlaw PCT 51.7 
			 Broxtowe and Hucknall PCT 56.3 
			 Greater Derby PCT 28.3 
			 Eastern Leicester PCT 55.5 
			 Ashfield PCT 32.3 
			 Rushcliffe PCT 49.5 
			 Derbyshire Dales and South Derbyshire PCT 33.4 
			 East Lincolnshire PCT 29.1 
			 High Peak and Dales PCT 56.0 
			 Hinckley and Bosworth PCT 30.6 
			 Charnwood and North West Leicestershire PCT 44.1 
			 South Leicestershire PCT 32.8 
			 Northamptonshire Heartlands PCT 41.4 
			 Northampton PCT 45.9 
			  Notes: 1. Performers are defined as a dentist who has been set up on the Dental Practice Division (DPD), of the BSA, Payments online (POL) system by the PCT to work under an open contract as at 30 September 2006. Data provided are a count of the individuals listed as performers on open NHS contracts within the PCT, including orthodontists. 2. Figures for the numbers of dentists at specified dates may vary depending on the date the figures are compiled. This is because the BSA may be notified of joiners or leavers up to several months, or more, after the move has taken place. The data provided consists of that reported to the BSA by 2 November 2006 3. England and SHA population data have been estimated using Office for National Statistics 2005 mid-year population estimates based on the 2001 census. PCT data have been estimated using 2004 mid-year population estimates as these are the latest available at this level.  Sources: 1. The Information Centre for health and social care 2. NHS Business Services Authority

Departmental Statistics

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which statistics have been put forward by her Department for consideration to become new national statistics in each of the last five years; and how many statistics sets her Department has produced in total in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: The current list of National Statistics produced by both the Department and by The Information Centre for health and social care can be found on the National Statistics website at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/about/ns_ons/nsproducts/defaultasp
	A list of changes to the scope of National Statistics additions and withdrawals in each of the last five years can be found in the relevant National Statistics annual report available on the National Statistics website at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=1051
	In addition to National Statistics, both the Department and The Information Centre for health and social care publish a wide range of other numerical information in a variety of forms including other data produced from management and administration sources and in research reports. There is no consistent definition of the term statistics sets and no centrally held information on the total published in each year on this basis.

Drug Abuse

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated cost was of drug counselling and drugs support services in each year since 2002.

Caroline Flint: The pooled treatment budget (PTB) is allocated to drug action teams for the treatment of substance misuse. We are unable to identify how much of this money is allocated for drug counselling and drug support services, since these decisions are made locally. Expenditure on drug treatment since 2002, including the PTB, is shown in the table.
	Expenditure on drug treatment (excluding prison-based treatment)
	
		
			   Central Government funding (pooled treatment budget)  Local funding (local authorities, primary care trusts, police, probation  Total 
			   Allocation (£ million)  Percentage increase  Allocation (£ million)  Allocation (£ million) 
			 2002-03 191 37 131 322 
			 2003-04 236 1 23 200 436 
			 2004-05 253 7 204 457 
			 2005-06 300 118 208 508 
			 2006-07 385 128 (1)212  
			 (1) (estimate)—Local funding increases based on two per cent, inflation increase.

Drug Abuse

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many drug-related deaths were recorded in each year since 2002.

Caroline Flint: The number of deaths in England related to drug misuse is shown in the table.
	
		
			   Total 
			 2002 1,456 
			 2003 1,181 
			 2004 1,334 
			  Note: Data taken from the Office of National Statistics data, Health Statistics Quarterly 29, Spring 2006

Drug-related Mental Illness

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged 15 to 25 years were treated for drug-related mental health problems in each year since 2002.

Caroline Flint: Information is not available in the requested format. Information on the number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) for both the primary diagnosis and all diagnoses for drug related mental health problems is shown in table. Please note that the information includes mental and behavioural disorders due to use of tobacco and alcohol.
	
		
			  Count of FCEs for drug related mental health problems for patients aged 15-25, NHS Hospitals, England 
			  ICD-10 codes  2004-05  2003-04  2002-03 
			   Primary diagnosis  All diagnoses  Primary diagnosis  All diagnoses  Primary diagnosis  All diagnoses 
			 Drug related mental health problems including alcohol and tobacco 7,284 26,011 6,508 23,113 5,832 20,213 
			 Notes:  1. Finished consultant episode (FCE)  A FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider.  2 Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.  3. All diagnoses count as episodes.  These figures represent a count of all FCEs where the diagnosis was mentioned in any of the 14 (seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in a HES record.  4. Diagnosis (primary diagnosis)  The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (seven prior to 2002-03) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.  5. The ICD-10 codes used in this analysis were as follows:  F11—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of opioids.  F12—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of cannabinoids.  F13—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of sedatives or hypnotics.  F14—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of cocaine.  F15—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of other stimulants, including caffeine. F16—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of hallucinogens.  F18—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of volatile solvents. F19—Mental and behavioural disorders due to multiple drug use and use of other psychoactive substances.  F55—Abuse of non-dependence-producing substances.  F10—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol.  F17—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of tobacco.  Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics, The Information Centre for health and social care.

General Practitioner Referrals

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is her intention that NHS trusts should not assume GP referral as authorisation to treat a patient, as stated in the London strategic health authorities' document entitled London wide commissioning: primary care trust commissioning intentions 2006-07' of 27 February 2006.

Rosie Winterton: The commissioning controls for this year were set out in the 'The NHS in England: the operating framework for 2006-07'. The statement in the document 'London wide commissioning: primary care trust commissioning intentions 2006-07', published on 27 February 2006, was in the context of ensuring financial balance. Where providers attract patients through choice and other primary care-generated referrals, primary care trusts (PCTs) are expected to meet these commitments. If provider activity exceeds the planned levels by more than an agreed margin, PCTs should work with practices and service providers to take appropriate action to ensure services are provided within current waiting time standards, having full regard to clinical priorities.

Hospital Running Costs

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the running costs are for a full year's operation, including loan repayments for capital investment and PFI costs of  (a) Queen's hospital, Oldchurch  (b) King George's hospital, Redbridge and  (c) Whipps Cross hospital, Leytonstone.

Andy Burnham: This information is not held centrally. However, trust level data can be found in the income and expenditure analysis of each of the trust's last full year's audited accounts, which will be available from Barking Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust and Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust.

Hospital-acquired Infections

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many products manufactured to tackle hospital-acquired infections have been referred to the Rapid Review Panel; and how many recommendations the Panel has made, broken down by category of recommendation.

Andy Burnham: To date 168 products have been referred to the rapid review panel. The following table shows this broken down by category of recommendation and product type.
	
		
			Recommendation  
			  Products  Total Number  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  Number received 
			 Cleaning products/disinfectants 40 1 4 4 11 13 7 0 0 
			 Surface coating products 24 0 0 11 5 8 0 0 0 
			 Fabrics 8 0 0 1 3 2 2 0 0 
			 Hand cleansing products 9 1 5 0 0 3 0 0 0 
			 Air decontamination products 22 0 2 8 6 5 1 0 0 
			 Other 65 1 7 14 9 16 7 4 7 
			 Total: 168 3 18 38 34 47 17 4 7 
			  Recommendations: 1. Basic research and development is valid and in-use evaluations have shown benefits. 2. Basic research and development is complete but evaluations/trials are needed in an NHS clinical setting. 3. Potentially useful but insufficiently validated, more research and development is required. 4. Not a significant improvement on the product available and it is unlikely to contribute to reducing healthcare associated infection. 5. Insufficient clarity/evidence presented to enable full review of product. 6. An already well established product. 7. The product is not related to infection control procedures.

Hospital-acquired Infections

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has  (a) commissioned and  (b) supported on the detection and control of causes of hospital-acquired infections.

Andy Burnham: The main agency through which the Government supports medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Innovation.
	The MRC funds a considerable programme of research that underpins scientific understanding of hospital acquired infections including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other antibiotic resistant pathogens. The programme's research portfolio includes two relevant projects
	researchers at Nottingham University have found that signalling molecules produced by another bacterium block communication, toxin production and the growth of Staphylococcus; and
	researchers at the MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London, have discovered the structure of metallo-beta-lactamases, a 'superfamily' of enzymes involved in the development of antibiotic resistance.
	These findings are aiding the ongoing search for new antibiotics to control hospital-acquired infections.
	The MRC is also currently taking forward discussions with the Health Protection Agency and the academic community on how to co-ordinate and stimulate high impact research in this area.
	The Department has for some years recognised the importance of the control of hospital acquired infection, and the threat to public health posed by the increase in antimicrobial resistance. As part of a wide-ranging approach to these issues, the Department set up an advisory group to identify research priorities in 1999. The group's report, published in 2001, made recommendations for future research that led to a research programme that is currently under way.
	In 2003 the Department published "Winning Ways—working together to reduce healthcare associated infection in England", a report that laid out a strategic approach to dealing with health care associated infections, including recommendations for further research. The report placed particular emphasis on activity aimed at preventing the occurrence and spread of infection.

Influenza

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what preparations her Department is making against the possibility of an influenza pandemic.

Rosie Winterton: The current version of the Departments United Kingdom influenza pandemic contingency plan was published in October 2005. The plan describes the likely impact of an influenza pandemic for the UK and outlines the actions the Government and other authorities are taking to prepare for a possible pandemic, to slow down the spread of infection, minimise the health impact and minimise disruption to society.
	The plan is currently being revised. The new version will have a broader scope than just the health response and cover wider areas of national planning. It is due to be published for comment on the Department's website in early January.
	The plan and further detailed information regarding our preparedness are available in the Library and on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/pandemicflu.

Lung Disease

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients the NHS has treated for lung disease in each year since 1997; and what resources the NHS has allocated for research into and treatment of lung disease.

Andy Burnham: The number of patients the national health service has treated for lung disease in each year since 1997 is not held centrally. However, the following table provides details of how many patients the NHS has admitted to hospital where the primary diagnosis was lung disease.
	
		
			  Count of hospital admissions where the primary diagnosis was lung disease 1998-99 to 2004-05 NHS Hospital, England 
			Admissions 
			  ICD-10 codes relating to lung disease  2004-05  2003-04  2002-03  2001-02  2000-01  1999-00  1998-99 
			 A15 Respiratory TB bacteriologically and histologically confirmed 912 837 770 730 693 681 734 
			 A16 Respiratory TB not confirmed bacteriologically or histologically 1,617 1,658 1,823 1,659 1,686 1,729 1,776 
			 A19 Miliary tuberculosis 165 164 145 121 127 103 115 
			 J10 Influenza due to identified influenza virus 172 327 110 138 121 249 339 
			 J11 Influenzavirus not identified 658 958 680 661 918 2,203 1,942 
			 J12 Viral pneumonia, not elsewhere classified 526 498 502 470 466 562 572 
			 J13 Pneumonia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae 2,276 1,837 1,634 1,651 1,549 1,747 2,082 
			 J14 Pneumonia due to Haemophilus influenzae 335 408 401 346 328 405 412 
			 J15 Bacterial pneumonianot elsewhere classified 3,261 2,995 3,159 2,834 2,539 2,625 3,089 
			 J16 Pneumonia due to other infectious organisms NEC 146 119 105 98 112 72 99 
			 J18 Pneumoniaorganism unspecified 95,141 88,896 82,053 76.797 67,787 73,710 74,984 
			 J20 Acute bronchitis 1,950 2,029 1,833 1,795 1,734 2,327 2,182 
			 J21 Acute bronchiolitis 20,835 21,162 19,957 21.162 22,874 22,086 22,328 
			 J22 Unspecified acute lower respiratory infection 81,616 78,554 72,513 72,962 69,159 79,915 80,449 
			 J40 Bronchitisnot specified as acute or chronic 1,733 1,577 1,469 1,510 1,573 1,881 1,826 
			 J41 Simple and mucopurulent chronic bronchitis 50 49 53 45 39 44 57 
			 J42 Unspecified chronic bronchitis 427 463 515 517 577 708 838 
			 J43 Emphysema 4,041 4,443 4,867 4,612 4,725 4,754 5,004 
			 J44 Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 108,400 105,600 93,373 92,049 89,730 95,039 93,019 
			 J45 Asthma 63,422 56,698 51,601 53,400 52,706 57,057 61,666 
			 J46 Status asthmaticus 7,485 6,907 7,381 7,157 8,076 9,502 8,754 
			 J47 Bronchiectasis 6,755 6,406 5,902 5,906 5,069 4.926 4,932 
			 J60 Coalworker's pneumoconiosis 65 51 59 51 57 71 80 
			 J61 Pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibres 203 152 152 172 160 143 134 
			 J62 Pneumoconiosis due to dust containing silica 14 17 16 13 19 21 19 
			  
			 J63 Pneumoconiosis due to other inorganic dusts 7 18 21 25 9 9 10 
			 J64 Unspecified pneumoconiosis 77 58 74 74 66 74 115 
			 J65 Pneumoconiosis associated with tuberculosis 4 2 6 4 0 2 1 
			 J66 Airway disease due to specific organic dust 9 9 5 7 7 10 4 
			 J67 Hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to organic dust 324 278 280 234 225 206 206 
			 J68 Respiratory conditions due to inhalation of chemicals, gases, fumes and vapours 54 56 68 60 47 68 49 
			 J69 Pneumonitis due to solids and liquids 6,754 5,788 4,700 4,116 3,168 2,746 2,296 
			 J70 Respiratory conditions due to other external agents 114 101 118 89 92 95 81 
			 J80 Adult respiratory distress syndrome 187 182 205 192 218 225 212 
			 J81 Pulmonary oedema 3,227 2,835 2,851 2,859 2,826 2,770 2,697 
			 J82 Pulmonary eosinophilia, not elsewhere classified 90 91 94 117 99 94 96 
			 J84 Other interstitial pulmonary diseases 6,705 6,548 6.010 5,504 5,300 4,994 4,836 
			 J85 Abscess of lung and mediastinum 468 512 441 425 435 458 400 
			 J86 Pyothorax 2,020 2,010 1,796 1,895 1,775 1,933 1.794 
			 J90 Pleural effusionnot elsewhere classified 16,435 15,160 15,111 14,822 14,546 13,967 13.369 
			 J92 Pleural plaque 433 373 357 352 337 282 291 
			 J93 Pneumothorax 7.148 6,604 6,598 6,332 6,379 6,469 6,694 
			 J94 Other pleural conditions 574 584 565 535 566 483 468 
			 J95 Postprocedural respiratory disorders NEC 1,217 1,278 1,229 1,172 1,143 1,207 1,233 
			 J96 Respiratory failure not elsewhere classified 4,587 4,106 3,889 3,563 3,028 3,205 3,241 
			 J98 Other respiratory disorders 6,494 6,391 6,249 5,957 5,722 6,099 6,406 
			 P22 Respiratory distress of newborn 5,300 5,389 4,977 5,289 5,386 5,273 5,554 
			 P23 Congenital pneumonia 205 227 232 214 207 196 192 
			 P24 Neonatal aspiration syndromes 1,093 1,070 945 1,064 1,401 1.616 1,731 
			 P27 Chronic respiratory disease originating in the perinatal period 366 349 340 324 371 317 326 
			 P28 Other respiratory conditions originating in the perinatal period 6,927 6,622 6,146 6,134 6,631 7,092 6,919 
			 Q33 Congenital malformations of lung 334 302 321 324 305 278 278 
			 Q34 Other congenital malformations of respiratory system 33 49 24 29 21 16 33 
			   473,391 449,797 414,725 408,568 393,134 422,744 426,964 
		
	
	The number of patients on the quality and outcomes framework for the only years available, 2004-05 and 2005-06, for the disease registers for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which are the only relevant data we hold in QOF are listed in the following table.
	
		
			   Asthma  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 
			 2004-05 3,073,401 716,508 
			 2005-06 3,101,275 732,418 
		
	
	Research active NHS organisations account for their use of the research and development allocations they receive from the Department in an annual research and development report. The reports for 2005-06 show that in that year those organisations spent some £31 million on research to do with respiratory disease.
	Figures were not collected prior to that date.
	Figures for resources allocated for treatment since 1997 are not collected centrally.

NHS Identity

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department's total expenditure has been on managing the NHS identity, as explained on the website www.nhsidentity.nhs.uk, in each financial year since 1997-98.

Ivan Lewis: The national health service corporate identity was developed and introduced in 1999-2000, cost information is available as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2001-02 179,807 
			 2002-03 194,462 
			 2003-04 336,760 
			 2004-05 304,793 
			 2005-06 333,996

NHS Staff Sickness Absence

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the staff sickness absence rate has been in the NHS in each financial year since 1997-98, broken down into each major category of staff.

Rosie Winterton: The national health service sickness absence survey was first collected in 1999. It is not possible to split the rates into staff groups. The following table shows NHS sickness absence rates from 1999 to 2005.
	
		
			  NHS sickness absence rates 1999 to 2005, England 
			   Percentage 
			 1999 4.9 
			 2000 4.7 
			 2001 4.8 
			 2002 4.6 
			 2003 4.7 
			 2004 4.6 
			 2005 4.5 
			  Notes: 1. Sickness absence rate is defined as the amount of time lost through absences as a percentage of staff time available. 2. This does not cover maternity leave, carers' leave or any periods of absence agreed under family friendly/flexible working policies. 3. General practitioners and their staff are not included in the above figures. 4. The above figures are estimates as some organisations in the NHS did not provide figures for sickness absence.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care sickness absence survey.

Patient Pathway Guidance

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to encourage NHS clinicians to develop patient pathway guidance for the treatment of conditions which have not been addressed by clinical guidelines from the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence;
	(2)  what patient pathway guidance NHS clinicians should follow where clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence are not available;
	(3)  whether her Department recognises patient pathway guidance developed by NHS clinicians prior to clinical guidelines being developed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for specific conditions.

Andy Burnham: The Department recognises that professional bodies and other relevant organisations continue to have a role in drawing together good practice advice on such issues where they are not the subject of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance. From time to time we work with specific professional organisations, such as the Royal colleges, to that end. For example, to support delivery of the 18 week general practitioner referral to treatment target the Department is working with clinical leaders to identify good practice and develop high level symptom based pathways. The Royal Colleges have been invited to nominate clinical leads for each of the high volume specialties to form a clinical advisory group for this work.

Prescriptions

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions have been issued using the electronic prescriptions service in each month since it became operational.

Andy Burnham: The number of prescription messages issued using the electronic prescription service (EPS) are detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Prescriptions messages 
			  Date  Number 
			 20-28 February 2005 607 
			 March 2005 3,442 
			 April 2005 2,887 
			 May 2005 3,576 
			 June 2005 3,394 
			 July 2005 6,135 
			 August 2005 6,432 
			 September 2005 14,400 
			 October 2005 46,039 
			 November 2005 69,823 
			 December 2005 68,365 
			 January 2006 87,074 
			 February 2006 153,771 
			 March 2006 260,898 
			 April 2006 262,952 
			 May 2006 439,427 
			 June 2006 662,362 
			 July 2006 816,584 
			 August 2006 1,083,300 
			 September 2006 1,362,209 
			 October 2006 1,361,877 
			 1-23 November 2006 1,174,587 
			 Total 7,890,141 
		
	
	This and other key information about deployments under the national programme for information technology are routinely published, and updated, on the programme's website at:
	www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/delivery/servicemanagement/deployment

Private Finance Initiative

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many private finance initiative schemes have been approved by her Department in the last three financial years, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Andy Burnham: The information is in the table.
	
		
			  Private finance initiative schemes that have reached financial close after full business case approval by the Department in the financial years 2004-05 to 2006-07 
			  Constituency( 1)  National health service trust  Capital value (£ million)  Financial close date 
			 Ashfield Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust 326 29 October 2005 
			 Bethnal Green and Bow and Cities of London and Westminster Barts and the London NHS Trust 1,000 27 April 2006 
			 Birmingham, Edgbaston University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust 627 8 June 2006 
			 Brentwood and Ongar South West Essex Teaching PCT 30 29 June 2006 
			 Brighton, Kemptown Brighton and Sussex University NHS Trust 36 10 June 2004 
			 Cambridge Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 76 27 October 2004 
			 Daventry Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 28 3 March 2005 
			 Ipswich Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust 36 27 March 2006 
			 Kingston upon Hull, West and Wressle Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 67 21 February 2006 
			 Leeds, Central Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 265 15 October 2004 
			 Lewisham, West Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust 72 8 July 2004 
			 Manchester, Central Central Manchester and Manchester Children's Hospitals NHS Trust 512 14 December 2004 
			 New Forest, West Hampshire PCT 36 18 November 2004 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne, East and Wallsend and Newcastle upon Tyne, Central Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 299 27 April 2005 
			 Oxford, East Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust 129 13 December 2005 
			 Portsmouth, North Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 236 12 December 2005 
			 Richmond Park Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 33 23 November 2004 
			 Sheffield, Brightside Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 35 19 December 2004 
			 St. Helens, North and St. Helens, South St. Helens Hospitals NHS Trust 338 1 June 2006 
			 (1) These are the constituencies principally affected by the scheme ie those containing a significant element of new build or refurbishment.

Psychotherapy and Counselling

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many qualified non-medical psychotherapy and counselling practitioners were employed by the NHS in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the number of qualified psychotherapy staff in the national health service in England from 2001 to 2005. The workforce census does not separately identify the number of counselling practitioners.
	
		
			  Qualified psychotherapy staff in England as at 30 September  each specified year 
			  England  Headcount 
			 2001 745 
			 2002 867 
			 2003 948 
			 2004 1,101 
			 2005 1,087 
			  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care non-medical workforce census

School Nurses

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many school nurses employed in the NHS are  (a) qualified and  (b) unqualified; what estimate she has made of the number of school nurses the NHS will need to employ in order to meet her Department's target of ensuring that each school will have access to a school nurse; and whether this target refers to qualified school nurses.

Rosie Winterton: An analysis of school nursing staff is provided in the table.
	The "Choosing Health" commitment requires the majority of school nurses to have a school nursing qualification by 2010.
	
		
			  Nursing staff in the school nursing area of work as at  30 September 2005 
			   Headcount 
			 All school nursing staff 3,353 
			  Of which:  
			 Qualified nurses 2,887 
			  Of which:  
			 Qualified school nursing nurse(1) 943 
			   
			 Unqualified nursing staff 466 
			 (1) Qualified school nurses hold the Nursing and Midwifery Council specialist practice qualification with an outcome in school nursing—which is a recordable qualification on the NMC register.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care non-medical workforce census.

Waiting Times

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the national average  (a) outpatient,  (b) day case and  (c) inpatient waiting times were for (i) gynaecology, (ii) ophthalmology, (iii) trauma, (iv) orthopaedics and (v) urology units in the last period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the national average  (a) outpatient,  (b) day case and  (c) inpatient waiting times were for (i) cardiology units, (ii) ear, throat and nose clinics, (iii) general medicine units and (iv) general surgery units in the last period for which figures are available.

Andy Burnham: Average waiting times are not available by hospital units, but are available at specialty level. Median waiting times for each specialty are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Median waiting times for inpatient admission by specialty September 2006 
			   Median wait in weeks 
			  Specialty  Day case  Ordinary (inpatient) 
			 General Surgery 6.9 7.4 
			 Urology 5.9 6.2 
			 Trauma and Orthopaedics 8.9 10.2 
			 ENT 8.2 9.2 
			 Ophthalmology 5.8 6.8 
			 General Medicine 4.6 5.0 
			 Cardiology 6.0 6.4 
			 Gynaecology 6.2 8.1 
			 All specialties 6.8 8.6 
			  Source:  QF01 returns from PCTs 
		
	
	
		
			  Median Waiting times for 1st outpatient attendance by specialty June 2006 
			  Specialty  Median wait (weeks) 
			 General Surgery 4.3 
			 Urology 5.9 
			 Trauma & Orthopaedics 7.6 
			 ENT 7.7 
			 Ophthalmology 7.3 
			 General Medicine 5.3 
			 Cardiology 5.1 
			 Gynaecology 4.5 
			 All specialties 6.0 
			  Source:  QM08Rs returns from PCTs

Yellow Card Scheme

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths occurred in England as a result of adverse reactions to medicinal drugs in each of the past seven years; and what proportion of these deaths were reported by the Yellow Card scheme.

Andy Burnham: Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are collected by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Commission for Human Medicines (CHM) through the spontaneous reporting scheme, the Yellow Card scheme. Approximately 19,000 reports of suspected ADRs are sent to the MHRA/CHM through this scheme each year. It is not possible to estimate from the Yellow Card scheme the number of people who suffer adverse drug reactions with a fatal outcome since the scheme is associated with an unknown level of under-reporting.
	Table 1 shows the total number of suspected adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports received via the Yellow Card scheme in the United Kingdom in each of the past seven years, and the number associated with a fatal outcome.
	
		
			  Table 1. Number of reports received via the Yellow Card  scheme in the UK 
			   Total number of adverse drug reaction reports  Number of adverse drug reaction reports with a fatal outcome 
			 1999 20,347 782 
			 2000 35,981 846 
			 2001 23,680 893 
			 2002 19,748 881 
			 2003 21,637 986 
			 2004 22,986 1,168 
			 2005 25,261 1,424 
		
	
	It is important to note that a report of an adverse drug reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug. Many factors have to be taken into account in assessing causal relationships including temporal association, the possible contribution of concomitant medication and the underlying disease being treated.
	A study funded by the MHRA and published in the British Medical Journal on 2 July 2004, was conducted in two large hospitals in Merseyside in order to ascertain the current burden of ADRs in the NHS. The study found that of 18,820 patients aged over 16 years admitted to hospital over a six month period, there were 1225 admissions judged to be related to an ADR, giving a prevalence of 6.5 per cent. Of these 1225, the ADR was judged to lead directly to the admission in 80 per cent, of cases. Adverse drug reactions were considered responsible for the death of 0.15 per cent, of all the patients admitted.